Houndstooth 'Walala Vineyard' Pinot Noir 2013 Sonoma Coast

While Kelli White and Scott Brenner are most known for their book, Napa Valley Then & Now, and as the wine directors at Press Restaurant in St. Helena, they are also now making Houndstooth Wines. Scott and Kelli are producing the wine with guidance from John Kongsgaard and after tasting their new releases together last week, we were really impressed with their 2013 Sonoma Coast single vineyard Pinot Noir coming from Walala Vineyard. Walala Vineyard is one of the main vineyards that was being used for Kosta Browne's Sonoma Coast Pinots and is now being used for various high-end Pinot Noir projects. Perched atop a ridge along the Sonoma Coast, just a few miles from the Pacific Ocean, the Walala Vineyard resides in what is often referred to as the "True" Sonoma Coast AVA. This heavily maritime-influenced 17-acre vineyard is on the extreme edge of Pinot Noir viticulture and rests at 1200 feet in elevation. This 2013 offers rich, full notes of dark red fruit with silky tannins and a satisfying finish of both the same red fruit and touch of baking spice. 100 cases were produced.