2008 Pali Durell Vineyard Pinot Noir (Screwcap)

Pali Wine Co. gets its name from the hometown of the founders, Pacific Palisades, an elegant suburb in the hills above Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles. Tim Perr and Scott Knight wanted to make artisanal Pinot Noir, and in 2005 they began producing wine in rented space in Lompoc. In 2007 they built a new facility in Lompoc, and today they produce about 20,000 cases a year, primarily Pinot Noir with some Chardonnay. Aaron Walker is winemaker and grapes are sourced from Santa Barbara County and Sonoma County. The wines are sometimes named for beaches off the southern and central California Coast, such as Huntington Point and Riviera Point.

Sonoma Coast AVA runs from San Pablo Bay in the south to Mendocino County in the north. It includes 7,000 vineyard acres and earned AVA status in 1987. Its proximity to the Pacific Ocean means it gets double the rainfall of nearby inland appellations and the ocean gives the appellation a relatively cool climate. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir can thrive in these conditions, and there are numerous producers making critically acclaimed Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

This red wine is relatively light and can pair with a wide variety of foods. The grape prefers cooler climates and the wine is most often associated with Burgundy, Champagne and the U.S. west coast. Regional differences make it nearly as fickle as it is flexible.