2021 Purity ‘La Niña' Sonoma County Pinot Noir/Viognier

Region: Petaluma Gap (Sonoma Coast) + Sierra Foothills < California

Grapes: 70% Pinot Noir, 30% Viognier

Vineyard/Cellar Stats: Organic farming; some carbonic fermentation on the Pinot, then foot tread and fermented on skins for 10 days before gently pressing; Viognier fermented separately then added to Pinot juice to co-ferment; no added So2; 11% ABV

Winemaker: Noel Diaz

Purity Wines is the project of Noel Diaz, whose background is in the restaurant business. After nearly 20 years working in both front and back of house, he gravitated towards the wine side and eventually became the wine buyer at the restaurant where he worked. Through connections from friends he explored all sides of the wine industry and eventually settled on winemaking, which is great for us drinkers, as he is one of the most dedicated hands-off, full-transparency and gifted winemakers we know. He shares the full story of how each wine is made on the back label, broadcasting his mission statement on Purity’s website front page: “Crafted from grapes of uncompromising quality, with minimal intervention and great deference to soil, place and vintage.”

We love so many of Noel's wines, but this has a special place in our hearts, because it is essentially the base wine of the 2020 Pop Rocks pet-nat, our collab with Noel, that gets another year of age.  That extra time in tank and bottle allow the Pinot Noir and Viognier to meld together seamlessly, with the aromatic Viognier lifting the earthy, herbal Pinot.  Lean but not mean, with high-toned red fruit that is sweetly spicy, with cloves, dark berries and a smoky, long finish, this light-ish red would be amazing with anything grilled or from a Taco truck.  

SERVING NOTES: serve lightly chilled (20 minutes in fridge) and finish the night you open it, as it doesn't hold up well overnight.