Like many sommeliers, I am sometimes guilty of prejudging wines based on vintage and appellation; my mind tells me what might be encountered before the cork is even pulled. That said, on occasion expectations are completely shattered.
This wine has gotten some serious attention from the press in the US; when you put your nose in the glass you will see why. However, you have probably not encountered it before, unless you have wandered into Craig and Ellen Haserot’s charming boutique tasting room off the main square in Sonoma, or encountered one of their wines on a well-curated local wine list around Sonoma County. That’s because their small production wines are allocated only to mailing list members, select restaurants and a small number of retailers.

The Rodgers Creek vineyard, located just south of the famous Gap’s Crown Vineyard, is within the fog and wind-tunnel influence of the Petaluma Gap. Along with winemaker, Eric Bradley, they have focused on incredibly natural and traditional winemaking, seeking to reveal varietal expression and sense of place as nature intended. The wine delivers multidimensional perfume, opulence, texture and balance; it will charm California devotees and Burgundian lovers alike.

The famed Petaluma Gap funnels almost continuous wind and fog from the Pacific Ocean over this unique site; this allows for an ideal phenolic ripeness and retained acidity that is something of a rarity in the Golden State. At 300 feet in elevation, with well-drained, chalky volcanic soils and choice Pommard clones, every element aligns to deliver premium grapes with a serious voice of terroir. Yields are kept low and fruit is sorted meticulously throughout the season and at harvest. Vinified with 15% whole-clusters, using only native yeasts, in open-top fermentation tanks, the wine is aged in 50% new French oak barrels and is then bottled unfined and unfiltered. This reveals an ideal marriage: bright fruit, savory complexity and a multidimensional expression that is full of life and energy.

The 2014 Rodgers Creek Pinot Noir displays a nearly opaque, dark and ruby red core with slight pink and garnet reflections on the rim. The charming nose is overflowing with personality, revealing aromas of wild strawberry, cherry liqueur and goji berry laced with a hint of rose petal candy, dew-kissed forest, wildflowers, white tea leaf, hibiscus, wild herbs, exotic baking spices and that rare, all-encompassing perfume we all hope for when we ease the cork out of a bottle of Pinot Noir. This rich, full-bodied wine is harmoniously balanced, with a beautiful freshness that swiftly uplifts the sweet core of fruit, creating a savory marriage of flavors. While decanting is not strictly necessary, let this wine gently breathe by opening one hour prior to drinking. For an epic evening, serve in Burgundy stems at 60-65 degrees alongside this recipe for Roasted Pork and Dried Fruits.