Weather Wines 2022 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 750ml

Weather Wines takes its name and its entire philosophy from the single force that shapes cool-climate California winemaking more than any other: the marine fog that rolls in off the Pacific most mornings and evenings, and the sun that burns it back most afternoons — the daily rhythm that gives Sonoma Coast fruit its defining freshness and tension. Produced under the John Anthony Wine & Spirits umbrella out of Napa, Weather Wines is built specifically around expressing that climatic push and pull in the glass, and its Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir is the clearest single statement of that philosophy in the portfolio.

The 2022 growing season gave Weather Wines exactly the conditions the appellation is known for at its best: a stretch of sunny days opened the year, a well-timed downpour prompted early budbreak, and the summer that followed was sunny, steady, and mild, with occasional late-season heat spikes consistently balanced by cool marine fog rolling through mornings and evenings. Those enduring, moderate conditions carried all the way through to harvest, producing what the winery itself calls an exceptional vintage — intriguing, vibrant wines with genuinely complex flavor development. Fruit was sourced from the Russian River Valley and Los Carneros, two of the most celebrated sub-regions within the broader Sonoma Coast AVA, then aged nine months in 30% new French oak — a restrained oak regime specifically calibrated to add gentle spice and structure without masking the fruit's natural brightness.

The Sommeliers Choice Awards recognized the 2022 with a Bronze Medal, describing it as "soft and fruit-forward with red cherry, cinnamon, and subtle smoke... smooth and approachable with light structure and easy-drinking appeal." The winery's own tasting notes describe pale ruby tones with bright aromas of black raspberry and macerated strawberry, layered over earthy undercurrents of tobacco leaf, developing into deep, vibrant flavors of wild berries, plum, and pomegranate with just a touch of allspice from the oak. Bright, front-palate flavors unfold into balanced layers with an energetic finish that the winery specifically notes promises excellent cellaring potential. Wine-Searcher's aggregate places the wine at 89 points — a genuinely accessible, well-reviewed introduction to serious Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir.

Origins & Craftsmanship

Weather Wines is produced under the John Anthony Wine & Spirits portfolio, based in Napa, California — a project built specifically around expressing the daily climatic rhythm of California's cool-climate coastal wine regions, where morning and evening marine fog and afternoon sun together shape the character of the fruit. The Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir is sourced from vineyards in the Russian River Valley and Los Carneros, two of the most established and most consistently high-quality sub-regions within the broader Sonoma Coast AVA, both benefiting directly from proximity to San Pablo Bay and the Pacific, which moderates temperatures and preserves natural acidity in the fruit.

The 2022 growing season began with a stretch of sunny days and a well-timed early downpour that prompted early budbreak, followed by a summer that ran sunny, steady, and mild, with occasional late-season heat spikes consistently tempered by cool marine fog through the mornings and evenings. These enduring, moderate conditions persisted through harvest, producing fruit of genuine vibrancy and complexity. Following fermentation, the wine was aged nine months in barrels comprising 30% new French oak — a moderate oak program designed to layer in gentle spice and structural support while preserving the fruit's essential freshness and cool-climate character. Bottled at 13.5% ABV.

Critics Reviews

Wine-Searcher aggregate — 89/100 (2022 vintage)

Bronze Medal — Sommeliers Choice Awards:
"Soft and fruit-forward with red cherry, cinnamon, and subtle smoke, this Pinot is smooth and approachable with light structure and easy-drinking appeal."

Weather Wines official tasting notes (2022 vintage):
"2022 Weather Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir is sourced from one of the best marine-influenced regions for this sensitive varietal. Pale ruby tones with bright aromas of black raspberry and macerated strawberry have earthy undercurrents of tobacco leaf. Deep, vibrant flavors of wild berries, plum, and pomegranate have just a touch of allspice from being aged 9 months in 30 percent new French oak. Bright, front-palate flavors unfold into balanced layers with an energetic finish promising excellent cellaring potential."

Marketview Liquor (house style, extended tasting note):
"This Pinot Noir's pale ruby-garnet color is pure enticement. Bright aromas of Rainier cherry, wild blueberry and earthiness are layered with hints of lilac and violet. A soft, delicate first taste expands with flavors of brambly fruits, cran-raspberry, blood orange and baking spices. Perfect acidity leads to a lifted vibrancy on the finish, generating impressive length and dimension."

BottleBuzz (house style, extended tasting note):
"Delight in the elegance of Weather Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast, a wine that offers a captivating fruit-forward profile filled with vibrant flavors of red berries such as cherry and raspberry. This exquisite blend is beautifully complemented by subtle earthy undertones and hints of spice, resulting in a silky and balanced finish."

Tasting Profile

Nose
Pale ruby to ruby-garnet in color. Black raspberry and macerated strawberry lead, joined by Rainier cherry and wild blueberry, layered with hints of lilac and violet. Earthy undercurrents of tobacco leaf ground the fruit, adding genuine complexity beneath the bright top notes.

Palate
Soft and delicate at first taste, expanding into deep, vibrant flavors of wild berries, plum, and pomegranate. Brambly fruits, cran-raspberry, and blood orange add layered brightness, with baking spice and just a touch of allspice from the oak rounding out the mid-palate. Red cherry and cinnamon carry the wine's fruit-forward, easy-drinking character.

Finish
Perfect acidity leads to a lifted, energetic vibrancy on the close, generating impressive length and dimension. Subtle smoke lingers alongside the fruit — a finish the winery itself notes promises real cellaring potential, though the wine is equally enjoyable young.

Quick Overview

Food Pairings

• Roasted chicken
• Grilled salmon
• Mushroom-based dishes
• Charcuterie boards
• Veal and pork