Walala Vineyard resides at 1,200-feet elevation just miles from the ocean in the northern Sonoma Coast. Cool coastal breezes and thick fog helped the grapes mature evenly through the September heat wave. 2022 was a drought vintage that offered only miniscule yields, with small clusters and tiny berries. We were only able to produce a small quantity of this exceptional Pinot Noir. It offers layers of red fruit aromas with tropical notes. Clone 113 provided robust flavors while clones 115 and 828 added structure and complexity. We fermented the clone 828 whole cluster.
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International Wine Report
"With just 5% whole cluster to give it a touch of added structure and weight, the Walala Pinot Noir from Sojourn is aged in 50% new French oak. Displaying a ruby-red core with a light pink rim in the glass, it boasts pleasant aromas of red and black cherries, marionberries, wet-turned earth, crushed pink peppercorn, dusty flower petals, and sweet baking spices. Tannins are present but sweet and rounded and pair perfectly with the lush acidity that sweeps across the palate. Another winner from winemaker, Randy Bennett, is highly recommended." - Jeremy Young, International Wine Report
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Owen Bargreen
"This magical new 2022 Pinot Noir bottling comes from this site neighboring the Pacific Ocean. It is very salty and intense with dark raspberry and black cherry flavors that combine with salty soils, wet stone and suggestions of Satsuma orange zest on the palate. Full-bodied, with a great mineral backbone, this is both dense and well-structured wine that will easily live on for another ten plus years." - Owen Bargreen
Walala Vineyard
West Sonoma Coast
The Walala Vineyard is perched along a ridge 1,200 feet above sea level, just inland from the rugged Sonoma coastline. In its position above the dense fog line, the vineyard experiences the moderate temperatures that give grapes longer hang times for optimal flavor and ripeness.