From the coastal mountains of the northwest Sonoma Coast, we delve inland and further north to the Comptche Ridge Vineyard, deep in the forested wilderness of Mendocino. This small, remote site is surrounded by redwoods and Douglas fir on Franciscan shale and fine sandy loam soils. Farmed without irrigation, the mature vines are predominantly Swan clone—a selection reputedly smuggled in from Burgundy by the late Joseph Swan. This heritage vine material and the vineyard’s heavily forest-influenced terroir create one of the most unique and complex expressions of Pinot Noir you’ll find anywhere. There’s a tangible forest-floor and undergrowth element that leans darker and more brooding than the West Sonoma Coast bottlings. Powerfully structured with brambly fruits, this is serious Pinot Noir.