2008 Radio-Coteau Pinot Noir Terra Neuma

The outstanding 2008 Pinot Noir Terra Neuma reveals sweet, round, black currant and sweet and sour cherry notes intertwined with hints of forest floor and loamy soil. Medium to full-bodied with a dark plum/ruby color, good acidity and sweet tannins, this cuvee is made from Dijon clones 115, 777, 828 and the California Swan Selection. It should drink nicely for 5-7 years. Proprietor Eric Sussman seems to go from strength to strength at this small boutique winery. One of the buzz words in the wine world is -natural- winemaking, which has no real definition and is often shamelessly used to promote a certain style of wine. Yet Radio-Coteau is a great example of 'natural winemaking' native indigenous fermentations, incredibly low usage of SO2 and biodynamically farmed vineyards. Then add the fact that the wines are bottled without fining or filtration. Of course, human beings/civilization have to intervene in the winemaking process, so until grapes are produced that can detach themselves from the vine and hop, skip and jump to a fermenter and make themselves, we will never have 100% 'natural' wines. Eric Sussman's three 2008 Syrahs have also turned out fabulously well, with all of them living up to the higher end of my barrel tasting range of scores of last year. The 2009 Syrahs are not as intense as their 2008 counterparts. However, given how Eric Sussman's wines often put on weight in the barrel, my current ratings may look conservative a year from now. Tel. (707) 823-2578; Fax (707) 823-2112