Pinot Noir, "Scallop Shelf" Peay Vineyards, Sonoma, CA, 2021

Peay Vineyards “Scallop Shelf” Pinot Noir 2021

This is an exceptionally well-reviewed West Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir, with scores reaching the upper 90s:

• Decanter: 99 points — Calls it an “exemplary coastal Pinot Noir,” emphasizing blood orange, pomegranate, pine needles, briny sea air, silky texture, bright acidity and smoky sea-salt minerality.
• Jeb Dunnuck: 99 points — Highlights wet stone, black raspberry, fresh herbs, orange zest, clove and gravelly saline earth. The review describes it as tense and medium-bodied, with a 2026–2046 drinking window.
• Robert Parker Wine Advocate: 96 points — Praises its delicate, perfumed character, red licorice, raspberry, lavender and saline notes, with chalky tannins, vibrant acidity and a long floral finish.
• Vinous: 96 points — Describes it as linear and mineral-driven, with red fruit, chalk, mint, white pepper and slate, bristling with saline energy and tension.
• James Suckling: 95 points — Notes ripe red cherries, dried flowers, rosemary and savory herbs, with silky tannins, succulent fruit, espresso and black pepper on the finish.

Overall: The four major critics give it an average of 97.5 points. The consistent theme is elegance, minerality, savory complexity, bright acidity and tension, rather than an overtly rich or fruit-heavy style. It's a particularly compelling choice if you enjoy Burgundy-influenced, cool-climate California Pinot Noir.

Decanter