There are certain wine regions I find myself returning to again and again, and when it comes to Northern California Pinot Noir, the Sonoma Coast sits firmly at the top of that list. There’s something about the interplay of coastal influence, bright acidity, and layered fruit that consistently delivers wines of both energy and elegance.
A recent bottle brought that into sharp focus.
The 2022 Felix Hunter Vineyard Pinot Noir from Anaba Wines arrived as a media sample, and from the first pour, it was clear this was a wine worth lingering over. Aromatic and expressive, it opens with dark red fruit and a hint of bay laurel, leading into a lively palate framed by bright acidity, Rainier cherry, and a subtle, spice-laced texture. The finish is layered and balanced, where oak, acid, fruit, and spice all find their place without any one element taking the lead.
Wine of the Week: 2022 Felix Hunter Vineyard Pinot Noir
Tasting note:
Pale ruby color with lifted black and red fruit, potting soil, rose hips, and spice aromas. On the palate it’s medium bodied with lively acidity and soft velvety tannins with raspberry sauce, black cherry and red cherries with a hint of blueberry flavors accented with baking spice with a very satisfying finish. 13.9% abv | SRP – $74| 92pts
It’s the kind of Pinot Noir that doesn’t just invite another sip—it invites a return visit.
It’s been several years since my last visit to Anaba Wines’ tasting room in Sonoma, but this bottle has me thinking it’s time to head back. Today, the experience extends well beyond the traditional tasting bar, offering a more relaxed and interactive take on wine country—one that feels very much in step with the modern Sonoma lifestyle.
I remember coming away from that earlier visit impressed by the clarity and balance of the Pinot Noirs—wines that felt shaped more by site than by winemaking. Revisiting the wines now, that impression still holds, though with an added sense of refinement. That arc—subtle, steady improvement rather than reinvention—seems to define the wines today. The Felix Hunter Vineyard bottling, a more relatively recent addition to the lineup, captures that evolution particularly well.
Beyond the glass, the winery has evolved into a destination where wine, food, and community intersect—from wood-fired pizzas crafted with local ingredients to casual activities like pickleball and bocce, all set against the backdrop of Sonoma’s coastal landscape.
Part of what makes this wine so compelling is its origin. The Sonoma Coast AVA, one of California’s most distinctive regions for Pinot Noir, is defined by its proximity to the Pacific Ocean. Cooling fog, persistent coastal winds, and a long growing season allow grapes to ripen slowly, preserving acidity while developing nuanced aromatics and texture.
The result, at its best, is Pinot Noir that balances brightness with depth—wines that feel both vibrant and grounded. The 2022 Felix Hunter Vineyard Pinot Noir fits squarely within that profile, capturing the tension and energy that make Sonoma Coast such a compelling source for the variety.
If this bottle is any indication, Anaba is doing more than making compelling wines—it’s creating an experience that invites you to slow down and stay awhile. And for me, that’s reason enough to start planning a return visit.