Tasting Notes
This single-vineyard wine is sourced from Radio-Coteau’s home vineyard in Occidental. Eric Sussman had been purchasing fruit from this 17-hectare site for years and didn’t hesitate when the opportunity arose to buy it in 2012. Practically within sniffing distance of the famed Heintz vineyard and bordering Russian River Valley, the site sits on the region’s fine, sandy Goldridge soils atop a ridge 240 metres above the town, just 13 kilometres from the coast. The proximity to the ocean and the moderating influence of rolling fogs provide cool coastal conditions and long, even ripening ideal for growing great Pinot Noir.
In a challenging year for most growers in California, Eric Sussman’s long-standing preference for early harvesting proved valuable. Sussman has always erred on the early side when it comes to picking. So, while his fruit made it safely into the winery in time to avoid adverse effects from the region’s devastating fires, many of his colleagues were not as fortunate. Handpicked and fermented with 52% whole bunches, only the free-run juice was sent to neutral, tight-grained barriques and puncheons (16% new) for 18 months’ maturation. The wine was bottled unfined and unfiltered.
The 2020 Pinot Noir Estate Belay is terrific. Deep and dark, the. 2020 shows quite a bit of intensity for the year. Black cherry, lavender, cloves, leather and incense flesh out in a broad, ample Pinot. The 2020 is quite somber and introspective, but its balance is beyond reproach. It is, quite frankly, an impressive wine for the year. 93 points. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous
In the 20 years since its foundation, Radio-Coteau has developed a cult-like following among those who prize purity, balance and finesse. Yet, while Eric Sussman’s wines sell out on allocation each year, he remains a salt-of-the-earth grower who shies away from cultivating an attitude of exclusivity. Crafted from the hillsides of California’s North Coast, the wines broadcast authenticity and a strong sense of place. They are born from great vineyards farmed with detailed care to maximise quality and expression.
Practically within sniffing distance of the famed Heintz Vineyard and bordering the Russian River Valley, the 17-hectare Radio-Coteau site is located on a ridge 240 metres above Occidental, just 12 kilometres from the coast. The property is home to a diverse agrarian platform; alongside the nine hectares of vines (Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Riesling and Zinfandel), there are cover crops, owl boxes, raptor perches and beehives. Both organic and biodynamic practices are used, and the vineyard has been Demeter-certified since 2018.
With the muscle work done in the vineyards, Sussman aims to do as little as possible in the winery, again emphasising his “old-world technique with new-world fruit” approach. All fermentations are spontaneous, and there are no additions save for small amounts of sulphur. All red wines are made using free-run juice only, and the whites get only the lightest pressing. Maturation is long and slow, new oak use is minimal, and all wines are bottled unfined and unfiltered.
You perhaps know enough about the Pinot Noir and Chardonnay to know not to hesitate. Yet, as Antoni Galloni has said: “Very few wineries excel at seemingly everything. Radio-Coteau is among them.” For Sussman, Syrah is an unsung hero of the Sonoma Coast. “They’re dynamic and layered with so much depth,” he says of its wines. His bottle-aged Dusty Lane combines silky elegance with delicious, fruity vigour—it’s spot-on. Finally, we offer Sussman’s “captivating” old-vine Zinfandel from 1946 vines rooted in the estate vineyard. No matter the variety, Radio-Coteau’s wines count among California’s most vibrant and nuanced. They call it the Golden State for a reason.
| Product Type | Wine Red Pinot Noir |
| Volume | 750ml |
| Country | USA |
| Region | California |
| Sub Region | Sonoma Coast |
| Winemaking Practices | Minimal Intervention |
| Vineyard Practices | Organic/Biodynamic |