97pts Jeb Dunnuck

The deep ruby 2023 Pinot Noir Far Coast Vineyard is savory and has a more mineral slant on the nose, with compact notes of black raspberries, juniper, and wild herbs. The palate brings more intensity and has a compact feel, with ripe tannins and focused, refreshing, ripe acidity. With a more structured feel and a long finish, it’s built to last. Drink 2026-2050.

97pts The Wine Palate

Medium ruby-purple colored, the 2023 Far Coast Vineyard Pinot Noir reveals red currant and kirsch notes plus fragrant notes of lavender, underbrush, and mint tea. The medium to full-bodied palate has wonderful tension with plush tannins and energetic red berry and floral notes, finishing long and chalky. 348 cases were made.

95pts James Suckling

A full-bodied, powerful wine, showing firm but succulent tannins and some bitter floral notes with dark chocolate, black cherries, plums and rose petals in the finish. Drink or hold.

94pts Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Matured for 15 months in 19% new French oak, the 2023 Pinot Noir Far Coast Vineyard has slowly unfurling aromas of wild berries, oolong tea leaves, nori and floral perfume. The full-bodied palate is powerfully styled with generous, ripe, spicy flavors and firm, grainy tannins. It’s balanced by vibrant acidity and has a long, dynamic finish. It will benefit from time in the cellar. 348 cases were made.

93pts Wine Enthusiast

Aromas of rich Bing cherry, cranberry, and cinnamon swirl on the nose of this Pinot. The palate displays a charming earthy edge, with black tea, nori, and fried shitake flavors mingling with black plum before a finish featuring bright acidity and plush, velvety tannins. 

Tasting Notes

Far Coast Vineyard consistently produces one of our boldest Pinot Noir offerings. The 2023 follows suit with intense cherry cola, blackberry and cocoa aromas. The subtle earth and underbrush characters carry into the flavors along with Asian spice and a broad, lush texture followed by black cherry and blackberry fruits. The persistent finish is distinctly Far Coast.

Vineyard Notes

Our Far Coast Vineyard is a cool site surrounded by redwood forests, located almost two hours north of the Russian River on a Sonoma Coast mountain ridge. It is an area that some call the “True Sonoma Coast.” Others would simply describe the distant vineyard site as “the middle of nowhere.” Far Coast Vineyard sits just south of the town of Annapolis at 600-1000 feet above sea level. The Goldridge soils at this ridge-top site are well-drained and help to contribute to the sense of minerality and focus in this rare single-vineyard Pinot Noir.

Winery Notes

'Hartford Family Winery was founded in 1994 as a result of Don and Jennifer Hartford’s appreciation for the wines, the people, and the unique vineyards near their Russian River Valley home. Located in the Sonoma County town of Forestville, the winery is about 15 miles from the cool Pacific Coast.

Making delicious wines of high personality is directly related to the difficult locations of our vineyard sources, the limited production of our bottlings and the varietals we use. “Character through adversity” is an expression that we believe applies to people and grapevines and surviving adversity builds character, and personality, in both.

Hartford Family Winery specializes in making wines from single vineyard sites. In recent vintages we have made about 25 different single vineyard bottlings. Small and low-yielding vineyards deliver expressive and personality-rich wine. Our single vineyard Hartford Court Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays total as few as 93 cases, up to about 800 cases. Likewise, our Hartford Old Vine Zinfandels are produced in small quantities. Our single vineyard wines are highly allocated.'