It was a pleasant day in Sonoma, and I took a break on a Friday afternoon to sample the fall release at Sojourn Cellars. The heat of the day was just fading as I walked into town, but it was still perfect to sit out front in their outside tasting area.
This release features two new vineyards for Sojourn Pinot Noirs. Silver Eagle Vineyards which is actually a return to the line up from 2013, and Nightwing Vineyards. We started the tasting with a Brut Sparkling wine. Nice aromas of green apple and pear blended with a yeasty profile. On the palate citrus and fine, plentiful bubbles with a slight green almond on the finish. I tasted both the 2019 and 2020 Durrell Vineyards Chardonnay. Both featured citrus and tree fruit aromas. I found the 2020 to have a distinct minerality that added zip to the wine. I liked it. Neither wine was heavily oaked, although the 2019 was a bit creamier.
We started off the Pinot Noir with the 2021 Nightwing Vineyards. It was beautifully aromatic with bright cherry and rhubarb. The entry is gentle with mellower fruit flavors of cherry and plum. The acidity is high and the flavors close down fairly quickly. The wine has been in bottle for less than a year, and I felt it needed more time to come together.
The 2021 Gaps Crown did not fail to impress. Medium intensity aromas featured dark cherry leaning into cherry cola and plenty of earth. Open on the entry with balanced fruit flavors of cherry, plum and raspberry and a long finish.
I also tasted the Cabernet Sauvignons. The 2019 Oakville which was dark with earthy aromatics that showed off blackberry fruit. On the palate the blackberry had a beautiful fruitiness with fine tannins. At this point a slight floral aspect emerges in the wine that is very nice.
The 2019 Oakville Ranch single vineyard CAb was inkly with dark fruit and earth with a hint of vanilla. On the palate the fruit profile was more mellow with baked blackberry, cassis and dried fig with chewy tannin and bright acidity.
I also tasted the Silver Eagle Pinot Noir and Russian River Pinot Noir. I took home the Gaps Crown and Russian River, both delicious. I am looking forward to seeing how the Nightwing and Silver Eagle develop under Sojourn hands. I also snapped up a sparkler and the Oakville Cab. Compared to the single vineyard, the Oakville held it's own and was a much better value.
As usual, all the Sojourn wines were terrific. It's still one of my favorites here in Sonoma.
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