JancisRobinson.com profiles the Moon Mountain District AVA in “Moon Mountain, Sonoma’s volcanic organic stronghold,” and writer Alder Yarrow highlights Far Mountain Wines, the project founded by Rodrigo Soto and his wife Mai Errazuriz, as one of the producers most focused on unlocking the region’s potential.
Soto, a longtime practitioner of biodynamic viticulture who previously led Quintessa’s conversion to the method in Napa, was drawn to Moon Mountain’s volcanic soils after reconnecting with local viticulturists Phil Coturri and Chuy Ordaz. He found vineyards that other winemakers had walked away from, calling them “forgotten vineyards.” Rather than see the old sites’ quirks as flaws, Soto viewed them as character. He and Errazuriz launched Far Mountain in 2019 with a singular regional focus, telling Yarrow: “We want to be the specialists of the Moon Mountain District.” OMY Cellar
That focus shows in the lineup. Yarrow scored the Far Mountain Montecillo Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2023, sourced from vines first planted in 1860, an outstanding 18+/20, praising its bright acidity and long, complex finish. The Fission Cabernet Sauvignon 2023, from the 1972-planted Gold Ranch vineyard, and the Monte Rosso Cabernet Sauvignon 2023, from vines dating to the 1880s, both scored 17.5+/20 for their juicy fruit and stony, volcanic character.
Check out the full Moon Mountain report HERE.
