Sitting across from famed and very jet-lagged winemaker Ross Cobb, he mentioned the challenges that he encountered in the dreaded 2020 vintage. “We didn’t make any Pinot Noir in 2020” said Ross Cobb. “We had two days of intense smoke and that was enough to make it so we could not make any Pinot sadly” he said. 2020 was a disaster for many Sonoma County producers. “We made white wines but no red wines. The whites were really good” Ross explained. He is very bullish on 2021 and 2022, with 2022 showing some massive potential in terms of power and weight.
For those who are less familiar with this brand, Cobb Wines focuses on the incredible salty terroir of the Sonoma Coast AVA. Cobb Wines was founded by Ross’s father, David Cobb, in 2001. Their story has a long history beginning in 1989 when David Cobb began cultivating Pinot Noir vines at his small Coastlands Vineyard, perched literally right overlooking the Sonoma coast. Cobb Wines combines the wine-growing prowess of David Cobb—one of the first big players in Pinot Noir viticulture on the far Sonoma Coast—with the winemaking talents of his son, Ross. Ross has a long resume, including previous stints at famed producers Ferrari-Carano, and Williams Selyem, where he served as viticulturist and enologist.
Only 130 cases of Cobb Wines were made with their first 2001 vintage. Now their production has increased considerably. I love the wines from the 2019 vintage. The salty terroir that he is able to extract makes these truly one of a kind. Look to the 2019 Cobb Wines ‘Coastlands Vineyard’ Pinot Noir (OB, 96) is one of the finest wines that you will taste from the Sonoma Coast AVA, showing insanely good tension and nerve, with fantastic texture and flavor range. Learn more about these brilliant Pinot Noirs at http://cobbwines.com Here are the outstanding new releases from Cobb.
2021 Cobb Wines Riesling- Sourced from a site in Anderson Valley, this is beautifully textured stuff with serious weight. Layers of gooseberry, green apple and beeswax notes combine on the palate. This is serious stuff that will cellar well for another eight years. Drink 2023-2031- 93
2021 Cobb Wines ‘Sonoma Coast’ Pinot Noir- This is the first vintage with the new label, as this is also a new wine that is a blend of all of Ross Cobb’s vineyard designates. Very perfumed with red rose petals and candied red fruits, this shows nice earthy undertones as well. The palate shows gobs of crunchy red fruits with citrus water and shades of salty earth. Drink 2023-2033- 93
2019 Cobb ‘Kiser Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- This site utilizes Dijon clone 114 and 115, as this underwent 35% whole cluster fermentation. The wine shows intense damp soil character with stony undertones and a beautiful core of red fruits. Incredibly complex, with serious finesse, this is beautiful wine that is already nicely evolved. Drink 2023-2038- 95
2019 Cobb ‘Wendling Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- This is located right across the street from the Kizer Vineyard, as this had 35% whole cluster fermentation. Purple rose petals combine with a dusting of white pepper, red currants and tobacco leaf with silty soils emerge on the nose. The palate has incredible verve and underlying weight. Heady, salty red and dark fruits combine with the prominent wet soil aspects on the palate. Marvelous now, this will cellar well for another fifteen years. Drink 2023-2038- 95
2019 Cobb ‘Swan and Calera Clone Doc’s Ranch Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2019 Cobb ‘Swan and Calera Clone Doc’s Ranch Vineyard’ Pinot Noir comes from vines planted back in 1998 and 2011. This tightly spaced spot is very close to the Pacific Ocean. This clonal selections wine has very pretty rose petal notes on the nose alongside blood orange zest and salty soils. The palate is lithe and polished with exotic spices, copious minerals and pomegranate seed flavors with shades of crushed wet rock. Very serious and nervy, this beauty will cellar well for another fifteen plus years. Drink 2023-2038- 96
2019 Cobb ‘Coastlands Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- This 50% whole cluster Pinot Noir comes from this site near the Pacific Ocean which was planted back in 1998. This has Pommard, Mt. Eden and Wadenswil clonal selections as well as Martini selection. Very salty and savory on the nose, this takes on pretty guava fruits alongside wild strawberry, potpourri and fresh sage. The palate is incredibly fresh and vibrant with marvelous tension. The purity of salty red fruits on the palate really impress here, as this beautiful wine will cellar well for another fifteen plus years. Drink 2023-2038- 96
2019 Cobb ‘Old Firs Coastlands Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2019 ‘Old Firs’ is named for the Douglass Firs that remain at this property. This underwent 60% whole cluster fermentation. There are cedar notes from the closeness to the trees on the nose, with red currants, red cherry candy, and kumquat zest notes, with freshly tilled salty soils. The palate is plush and soft with serious finesse and length. Very pretty in its guava fruit profile on the palate, this finishes long with copious minerals. Drink 2023-2038- 96
2019 Cobb ‘Diane Cobb Coastlands Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The really good 2019 Cobb ‘Diane Cobb Coastlands Vineyard’ Pinot Noir comes from this site, planted back in 1989, which has a wide range of Pinot Noir clones. The Pinot Noir was 60% whole cluster fermented and it comes off very polished and seamless on the palate, loaded with bright red fruits, kumquat zest, sandy soils and copious baking spices. Finishing long, this is beautiful Pinot Noir that will cellar well for decades to come. Drink 2023-2038- 96