Anaba Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2007

“Ah, ah, real Pinot Noir,” exclaimed the voice, “a delicate, feminine wine with all her hidden charms,” one panel member was heard to say to the nods of his fellow tasters. The 2007 Anaba Pinot Noir is indeed real Pinot Noir. It begins with a pretty robe and a delicate floral nose, along with a light vanilla accent that hints of more good things to come. Classic, delicate Pinot Noir characteristics of spring flowers and ripe, yet subtle berry flavors come immediately to fore along with just enough structure to complement the wine’s subtle, feminine charms. In addition, the 2007 Anaba Pinot Noir displays a soft, lovely texture on the tongue, with smooth, nicely integrated tannins. All the while, complex undertones of earth and oak remain respectfully in the background, present but unobtrusive. The Anaba Pinot Noir is the complete Pinot package; its complex flavors impressively integrated into a thoroughly pleasing whole, even in the bloom of youth. For optimal enjoyment, we suggest serving this delectable Pinot Noir cool (60º- 66º F).

The 2007 Anaba Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir is the perfect companion for a warm spring evening with friends; a still summer day as the sun casts its last, long shadow of the day; under a harvest moon as the leaves begin to fly; or on a cold winter’s night with a pot of veal stew simmering on the stove. In other words, the Anaba Pinot Noir is a wine for all seasons. It complements hearty winter fare such as stuffed game birds, pungent stews, and roast leg of lamb as adroitly as summer salads. One of our favorite every time meals with the Anaba is a roasted chicken salad, made with a touch of mayonnaise, grapes, walnuts, a pinch of dried mustard, and fresh rosemary. However, Anaba’s charm lends itself to many other meat, poultry, and seafood specialties, especially salmon. Enjoy!

Anaba specializes in handcrafting small lots of the best Burgundian and Rhône grape varieties from the winery’s Carneros estate vineyard and other outstanding vineyard properties in Sonoma County. Anaba’s Chardonnay and Pinot Noir reflect the elegance and complexity of the finest Cote d’Or wines of Burgundy. Similarly, the winery’s Rhône-style blends mirror the power and depth of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the southern Rhône’s greatest wine. Anaba’s artisan wines draw their life from the sun-kissed valleys and hills of Sonoma, where unique air currents bring cooling breezes inland from the Pacific Ocean and nearby San Pablo Bay. These constant currents glide up and down the hills and aerate the vineyard rows. As these breezes encounter steeper slopes, they drift upward and become known as anabatic winds. Anaba draws its name from these swift, upward moving winds. Anabatic winds are a gift of nature. They make a vineyard more temperate, especially in the late afternoon and evening. They also slow the ripening process, which is a key in California to producing highly aromatic wines with robust flavors and distinctive varietal characters. Moreover, lengthening the hang time or ripening process is especially important for cool weather varietals such as Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Consequently, Anaba’s mantra, “elegant, classic wines borne by the wind” is no mere flight of fantasy.