THIS is Pinot Noir at its best:
2005 Ancien Mink Vyd Napa ValleyAt their best, Sonoma Coast Pinot Noirs display loads of lovely ripe cherry fruit without the powerful extract and huge ripeness of Pinots from warmer regions. The soft but evident tannins provide gentle textural contrast and structure to support the juicy fruit.
The Sonoma Coast American Viticultural Area (AVA) -- the largest AVA in Sonoma County -- benefits from the Pacific Ocean's maritime influence. Cooling breezes and fog help maintain the cool, moderate climate, which the finicky Pinot Noir grape prefers.
The Sonoma Coast AVA lies between the ocean and the mountains and runs almost the entire length of Sonoma County. Marin County and the San Pablo Bay are its southern borders; it then moves north along the coastline to the Sonoma/Mendocino County border, slightly overlapping the Russian River Valley AVA. There's also a little overlap with the AVAs on Sonoma Coast's eastern border: (from south to north) Carneros, Sonoma Valley, Bennett Valley, Chalk Hill, Green Valley and Russian River Valley.