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vineyard pinot

Belay2018Sonoma Coast Estate Pinot Noir

2018
2018 Radio-Coteau Belay bottle

Vineyard Profile

Planted on a ridge top above the town of Occidental, Belay is our Demeter certified Biodynamic® Estate Pinot Noir. Our goal is to nurture the fruit from grape to glass, which increasingly becomes a reality with each Estate planting. As we become more vertically integrated, we find winegrowing a monumental task akin to climbing a mountain, with the Belay serving as both an anchor and stepping stone on our journey of ascension. With 23% whole-cluster inclusion and a 16-month élevage in 30% new, tight-grained French barrel and puncheon, the release of the 2018 Belay is especially notable for marking the inaugural harvest following the formal Biodynamic® certification of the Estate.

Tasting Notes

With its heightened red berry character and an aromatic sweetness that nimbly balances the lively fruit acidity, the 2018 Belay Estate Pinot Noir instantly captivates. Delicate notes of wintergreen and dried tea leaf weave throughout the fruit, accompanied by a whisper of Chinese Five Spice. Highlighting its layered complexity is a touch of umeboshi at its core, along with briny, coastal nuances that hearken back to its Sonoma Coast origin. Lifted and light on its feet, with polished tannins and a pronounced and enduring mouthfeel that rounds to a grippy finish. Utterly enchanting now, the 2018 Belay is also primed for lengthy aging – although it will be a challenge to wait.

Cellar Notes

  • Grower:
    Radio-Coteau
  • Appellation:
    Sonoma Coast
  • Geographic Location:
    Occidental
  • Varietal:
    Pinot Noir
  • Selection:
    Burgundian Heirloom, Mt. Eden, Calera
  • Vineyard Age:
    Planted in 2014
  • Soil Type:
    Goldridge
  • Harvest Date:
    September 9th — 19th
  • Unfined
    & Unfiltered

Wine Reviews

January 2021 | 96 points

“The 2018 Pinot Noir Estate Belay is every bit as impressive from bottle as it was from barrel. Rich and explosive, with stunning inner sweetness, the Belay is a real head-turner. Sweet red/blueish fruits, lavender, spice, mint and hard candy lend captivating inner perfume. There is more than enough structure to allow this large-scaled Pinot to develop beautifully for many years to come.”

–Antonio Galloni
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