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Friday, October 25, 2013

Fogdog Sonoma County Pinot Noir 2010

Fogdog Sonoma County Pinot Noir 2010

Elysian Cafe - Hoboken
We took a weekend getaway to visit son Alec in trendy Hoboken across from Manhatten. Hoboken offers a wonderful array of restaurants, many within walking distance of Alec's place. During the weekend, we enjoyed three wonderful meals at local eateries - Anthony David's Gourmet, Cafe Michelina Italian, and Elysian Cafe, Hoboken's oldest continually operating eatery and bar dating back to 1895.

Of course being the wine geeks we are, selecting our wine experience is an essential and equally important part of our dining experience, so we gravitate to the BYOB eateries. BYOB aside, our most memorable and favorite dining experience in Hoboken remains Amanda's which was our first and chance encounter to Hoboken dining. 

Upon arrival in town, we picked up this Fogdog Sonoma County Pinot Noir at the neighborhood wine shop and enjoyed it back at Alec's with grilled hamburgers, avocado, onion, tomato and cilantro. This smooth easy drinking Pinot was just right for the occasion.

Label from 2009 vintage
This is an interesting whimsical label from the legendary Joseph Phelps known for Bordeaux varietal wines from Napa Valley. Yet Phelps loved the wines of Burgundy and wanted to craft wines in that style. Originally he sourced Chardonnay from St. Helena, then Yountville and later from Carneros.

Through the years, he continued searching for the ideal spot to grow both Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. He found the perfect combination of climate, soil and location in Freestone, in the Sonoma Coast appellation AVA, just five miles from the Pacific Ocean. In 1999, Joseph Phelps Vineyards began developing 100 acres of vineyards just outside of Freestone.

In 2005, he built a new winery which was completed in time for the 2007 harvest. Today, 80 acres of Pinot Noir and 20 acres of Chardonnay produce remarkable estate-grown wines bearing the Joseph Phelps name.

The moniker 'fogdog' refers to 'a bright or clear spot that appears in the breaking fog'. Being just five miles from the coast, the fog rolls in from the ocean and graces the vineyards early in the day before being burned off by the late morning sun.


This Fogdog was sourced from Joseph Phelps' Freestone estate vineyards on the Sonoma Coast. The wine was aged in 30% new French oak before bottling.

From the winery: "Ripe raspberry, red cherry and plum aromas with touches of fragrant violet, earth and tangerine peel. Youthful, with great energy and racy acidity, this wine is loaded with juicy blackberry, black cherry and black pepper with lingering notes of baking spices. During the Fogdog selection process, we look for wines that boast vibrant fruit characteristics in addition to texture and acidity that are approachable upon release without extended bottle aging."

RM 88 points. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=1583864

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