Cobb Family Coastland Pinot Noir Blindtasted w/Ross Cobb

Introductory comments by tasting organizer Ross Bott:
The Coastlands Vineyard is located on the Sonoma Coast a few miles north of the Marin-Sonoma County border and just one ridge over and four miles east from the Pacific Ocean. From the high spots in the vineyard, one can see the ocean in the distance, and many nights the evening fog flows from the ocean around and sometimes over the vineyard. The very cool climate produces a small crop of deep and intensely concentrated Pinot Noir.

As world vineyards go, the Coastlands Vineyard isn't old, having been planted in the late 1980s and early 1990s. However, it contains some of the oldest vines in the Sonoma Coast, a relatively recently discovered, very "hot" region for Pinot Noir. The vineyard was made famous by Williams Selyem, who began to make a Coastlands Pinot in 1994. That wine received rave reviews, and their Coastlands Pinot, along with the Rochioli Pinot because the flagships of their lineup of highly regarded Pinots. They were also most difficult to obtain -- not only did one have to survive the waiting list and get on the mailing list for Williams Selyem, but it then it takes several years to build up seniority enough to get a single bottle of the Coastlands.

The Coastlands Vineyard is owned and managed by the Cobb family. Together, the blocks of the vineyard comprise 15 acres, and range in elevation from 900 to 1200 feet. The grapes were sold primarily to Williams Selyem through the 2000 vintage. At that time, brothers Ross and Stephen Cobb and their parents David and Diane founded Cobb Family Wines, focused on Pinot Noirs from five Sonoma Coast vineyards. Although they continue to sell some of the Coastlands grapes to Williams Selyem, they now produce a Coastlands Pinot of their own, along with Pinots from four other vineyards: Rice-Spivak, Emmaline, Joy Road, and Coastlands-Diane Cobb.

Ross Cobb is the winemaker for the Cobb wines. He began his winemaking career at Ferrari Carano, later moving on to work with Randal Grahm at Bonny Doon. His last job before co-founding Cobb Family Winery was as assistant winemaker under Burt Williams at Williams-Selyem. He also worked with Bob Cabral when Bob took over as winemaker after the sale of Williams Selyem and the retirement of Burt Williams. The first vintage of Cobb Family Coastlands Pinot Noir was 2001.

Tonight, we will have a special tasting of all seven Coastlands Pinots from Cobb Family, including their just released 2007. Joining us will be Ross Cobb and his father, David, to talk about the wines and the Coastland Vineyards. Here is the lineup of wines:

2001 Cobb Family "Coastlands Vineyard", Sonoma Coast
2002 Cobb Family "Coastlands Vineyard", Sonoma Coast
2003 Cobb Family "Coastlands Vineyard", Sonoma Coast
2004 Cobb Family "Coastlands Vineyard", Sonoma Coast
2005 Cobb Family "Coastlands Vineyard", Sonoma Coast
2006 Cobb Family "Coastlands Vineyard", Sonoma Coast
2007 Cobb Family "Coastlands Vineyard", Sonoma Coast
2001 Williams Selyem "Coastlands Vineyard", Sonoma Coast


For pre-wines, we will have:
1964 Chateau La Louviere Blanc
1977 Chateau Y (Yquem's dry white)
1979 Chateau Y

• 1964 Château La Louvière Blanc 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

  Medium dark carnary yellow color; reduction, oily, tart lemon, lemon rind, VA and hazelnut nose; solid, oily textured, tart lemon, mineral, lanolin palate with good acidity; long finish

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 1979 Lur-Saluces "Y" 90 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Bordeaux Supérieur

  Medium golden yellow color; beautiful, apricot, coconut, dried apricot and floral nose; light oily texture, ripe lemon, grapefruit, mineral palate with tart acidity that trails off midpalate; short-medium finish

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 1977 Lur-Saluces "Y" 89 Points

  France, Bordeaux

  Medium dark gold color; mature coconut, oxidizing, tart apricot nose; tart lemon, mineral, grapefruit and sherry palate with sweet edges; medium-plus finish

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2007 Cobb Pinot Noir Coastlands Vineyard: Diane Cobb 90 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  Group's #1 (my #5) – 57 pts; 6 1st place votes, 4 2nd place votes, 1 third, 1 last place – dark cherry red color with clarity and pale meniscus; nice bright cherry, tart red fruit, slightly savory nose; tight, tart red fruit, tart strawberry, cranberry and cinnamon palate with medium acidity; medium finish 90+ pts. (set for release in March 2010)

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2005 Cobb Pinot Noir Coastlands & Rice-Spivak Vineyards 92 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  Group's #2 (my #1) – 66 pts; 3, 3, 3, 1 - medium dark red color with pale meniscus; silky textured, big ripe cherry, cherry rhubarb, black cherry, blackberry nose with depth; tasty, cherry and rhubarb pie, lower acidity; medium-plus finish 92+ pts.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2003 Cobb Pinot Noir Coastlands Vineyard 91 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  Group's #3 (my #4) – 69 pts; 3, 1, 4, 1 - dark cherry red color with clarity and clear meniscus; appealing, big berry, black raspberry nose; tart red fruit, cranberry, mineral palate with delicacy, medium acidity and good grip; medium finish

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2001 Cobb Pinot Noir Coastlands Vineyard 86 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  Group's #4 (my #8) – 77 pts; 1, 4, 2, 2 - bricking medium red color with clear meniscus; brett, cinnamon, earthy nose; brett, tart cherry, cinnamon, smoky palate; medium finish

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2002 Cobb Pinot Noir Coastlands Vineyard 88 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  Group's #5 (my #7) – 84 pts; 2, 2, 1, 1 - slightly bricking medium red color with clear meniscus; VA, brett and cherry nose; brett, tart red fruit and cranberry palate with medium acidity; medium finish (Ross Cobb reports that brett appeared on this wine two years after bottling)

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2006 Cobb Pinot Noir Coastlands Vineyard: Diane Cobb 91 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  Group's #6 (my #3) – 793 pts; 0, 1, 3, 2 - medium dark cherry red color with clarity and clear meniscus; baked cherry, black cherry and allspice nose; focused tart red fruit, cranberry, cinnamon palate; medium finish 91+ pts.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2004 Cobb Pinot Noir Coastlands Vineyard 92 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  Group's #7 (my #2) – 92 pts; 0, 2, 2, 3 - dark cherry red color with pale meniscus; nice cherry, raspberry, floral, berry nose; tasty, silky textured, tart cherry, cranberry palate with medium acidity; medium-plus finish

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2001 Williams Selyem Pinot Noir Coastlands Vineyard 89 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  Group's #8 (my #6) – 108 pts; 2, 1, 1, 8 - slightly cloudy, bricking, medium raspberry red color with pale meniscus; brett, maderized nose; tart cherry, red fruit, maturing, cola and red plum palate, better on the palate than the nose would indicate; medium-plus finish

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 1985 Quinta do Noval Porto Vintage 92 Points

  Portugal, Douro, Porto

  Slightly cloudy, bricked, light medium raspberry red color with clear meniscus; VA, cherry, raspberry nose with a touch of chocolate; tasty, maturing, berry, cherry, white chocolate, deep palate; long finish 92+ pts.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No