# Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir (2023)

- **Producer:** Kutch Wines
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Pinot Noir
- **Region:** California, United States
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 12.5%
- **Average price:** €48
- **Vegan:** Yes
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 14–16 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** raspberry, strawberry, cherry, rose, violet, black pepper, herbaceous, toast, vanilla, cloves, forest floor, wet leaves

## About this wine

Kutch Wines was founded by Jamie Kutch, who famously abandoned a successful career as a Nasdaq institutional trader in New York City to pursue his passion for cool-climate winemaking in California. Sourced from cold, wind-swept vineyards along the extreme Sonoma Coast, this Pinot Noir benefits from the intense marine influence, heavy fog, and cool ocean breezes. These challenging growing conditions result in small, concentrated berries with remarkable natural acidity and lower potential alcohol, capturing the wild, rugged essence of the Pacific coastline.

## Interesting facts

- Founder Jamie Kutch moved across the country to make wine after being inspired by online wine forums and tasting classic Burgundies.
- The wine utilizes whole-cluster fermentation, a traditional technique that includes the grape stems to add herbal complexity and structure.
- Kutch wines are highly sought after for their remarkably low alcohol levels, often reminiscent of classic European styles rather than typical warm California Pinots.

## Food pairing

The high natural acidity and elegant, low-tannin structure of this cool-climate Pinot Noir make it incredibly versatile. It effortlessly cuts through the rich fat of duck and pork belly, while its earthy, forest-floor undertones beautifully mirror the savory, umami-rich qualities of wild mushrooms and roasted poultry.

## Wine making process

The winemaking philosophy at Kutch focuses on minimal intervention to let the terroir speak clearly. Grapes are hand-harvested and fermented using a high percentage of whole clusters (often up to 100%), which adds structural complexity, fine tannins, and spicy aromatics. Fermentation is carried out exclusively by native yeasts in open-top vessels. The wine is then aged in neutral French oak barrels to avoid overpowering the delicate fruit profiles, and it is bottled unfined and unfiltered with minimal sulfur additions.