Pinot Noir (2022)

About this wine

This is a Pinot Noir made from grapes sourced along the California coast, including Monterey and other coastal counties, with a focus on a layered, soft style. On the nose it shows bright cherry and raspberry, with light toasted wood, clove, and a hint of vanilla and s m ores. The palate is fruit driven with lush cherry and plum flavors and a plush mouthfeel, supported by gentle tannins and lively acidity. The wine receives light oak influence during aging which adds spice and subtle toasty notes without dominating the fruit. Winemaking is led by Charlie Wagner of the Wagner family and the brand emphasizes sourcing from coastal sites where cool ocean breezes extend the growing season. The bottle is marketed as approachable and versatile, showing ripe red fruit and a soft, silky finish that often evokes milk chocolate or a gentle cocoa note on the close.

About the grape

Pinot Noir has its roots in Burgundy, France, and is prized for thin skins, bright red fruit and sensitivity to site, traits that make clone and vineyard choices critical. In this bottling Sea Sun sources Pinot Noir from California coastal areas such as Monterey, Santa Barbara, Solano and San Luis Obispo, where cooling Pacific breezes and long sunlit growing seasons allow the variety to ripen slowly and keep balanced acidity. The Wagner family and winemaker Charlie Wagner work with these coastal vineyards to blend parcels that bring together Monterey ripeness, Solano structure and San Luis Obispo roundness, using coastal site selection and canopy management to protect the fragile skins and concentrate flavor. The result is a wine built around the grape s natural tendency to reflect place, with careful sourcing and viticultural practices tailored to Pinot Noir s finicky nature.

Quick facts

• 🍷 Sea Sun Pinot Noir was crafted by Charlie Wagner, a member of the Wagner family that founded Caymus, so it carries a Napa legacy in a coastal bottle
• 🌊 The wine name Sea Sun comes from a literal approach, the Pacific Ocean provides cooling breezes and the sun gives warmth, together extending the growing season
• 🌍 Sea Sun 2022 blends fruit sourced from three distinct California coastal counties, Monterey, Solano and San Luis Obispo, each adding its own personality to the wine
• 🍫 Tasting notes often mention a plush texture and a milk chocolate like finish, a playful style choice that makes this Pinot Noir feel indulgent for its price
• 🛒 Although tied to the premium Caymus family, Sea Sun is positioned as an accessible California Pinot Noir and is widely available at major retailers and tasting rooms

Palate profile

Producer

Sea Sun Wines, led by owner and winemaker Charlie Wagner, is a California-based winery that sources grapes from diverse coastal regions, including Monterey, Santa Barbara, and Solano counties. The winery focuses on producing Chardonnay and Pinot Noir that reflect the unique coastal influences of these areas, characterized by bright sun and cooling ocean breezes. The name "Sea Sun" is inspired by this combination of natural forces.