Region: Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, California

Varietal: 100% Pinot Noir

Producer: Red Car Wine Company has become a stalwart of cool-climate Pinot Noir in Sonoma County, especially with their Heaven & Earth Vineyard project. Located just outside Occidental and farmed organically since day one, Heaven & Earth is one of Red Car’s more distinctive sites — planted in 2004 with clones Calera, Pommard, and “828,” and maintained with intense vineyard care. Over 15 years in, the vineyard has consistently delivered wines known for depth, nuance, and purity, helping solidify Red Car’s reputation for expressing place with clarity rather than sheer power.

Vineyard & Winemaking: The 2018 vintage was marked by unusual coastal cooling — an oceanic upwelling in August dropped temperatures, which slowed ripening and preserved acidity. The Heaven & Earth vineyard is small (about 4.5 acres), densely planted (over 2,000 vines per acre), and farmed organically, with very low yields (under 2.5 tons/acre) which help intensify flavors. In the cellar, the wine was made with minimal intervention: indigenous yeast fermentations, careful handling, and maturation in French oak (some new) that supports the fruit without masking its site character.

Tasting Notes: Now several years into bottle, the 2018 Heaven & Earth Pinot Noir has evolved beautifully. The primary cherry, raspberry, and bright red fruits have grown more layered and plush, giving way to notes of bramble, dried rose, and forest floor. The cool vintage still shows its hand in crisp acidity and refined minerality. Tannins are smoother than when young, with just a touch of drying on the finish, while spice—white pepper, cardamom—melds with oak accents that no longer dominate. There’s enough structure and nuance here for more cellaring, but it’s also delivering pleasure now.