Launching our new Wine Collection next week!
In 2002, Eric established Radio-Coteau, focusing on the north coast vineyards of western Sonoma County and Anderson Valley. With their benchland locations, well-drained soils, exposure to capricious marine air and fog, these sites host grapes naturally suited to their surrounding elements. This natural selection afforded Eric an opportunity to refine his Old World experiences while working with New World grapes. For nearly two decades, he and our winegrowing team have strived to balance nature’s expression with a delicate, but disciplined human touch in these handcrafted wines. The winery has been Demeter Certified Biodynamic® since 2008, a reflection of our commitment to crafting wines of origin utilizing low-intervention winemaking practices.
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ERIC SUSSMAN – WINEGROWER & PROPRIETOR
Born and raised in New York State, Eric developed his passion for winegrowing while studying agriculture at Cornell University. After spending several years in Washington’s Yakima Valley, he immersed himself in the old-world culture and traditions of France over two exceptional vintages – 1995 in Bordeaux at Baron Philippe de Rothschild of Pauillac, and 1996 in Burgundy at Domaine Comte Armand of Pommard and Domaine Jacques Prieur of Meursault. Apprenticing alongside men and women who have tended the same vineyards and wines through countless seasons reinforced Eric’s respect for the intrinsic connection between land, people and the wine they produce.
Upon returning to the United States, and after a year of collaborating on the wines at Bonny Doon in Santa Cruz, Eric settled in Western Sonoma County and spent four years as the associate winemaker for Dehlinger. Working with one of the area’s finest estate producers enhanced his appreciation for the world-class wine grown in this region.
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WINES
Radio Coteau La Neblina
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Spanish for “fog,” la neblina rolls in from the Pacific Ocean to blanket and cool the coastal Pinot Noir vineyards of western Sonoma County. This is our flagship Pinot Noir, always a cellar favorite, and is comprised of a complex array of three organically grown West County coastal sites on Goldridge soil. La Neblina epitomizes the essence of the Sonoma Coast within the distinct vintage context.
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Radio Coteau Alberigi
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In the heart of the Russian River Valley, the Alberigi Vineyard, sourced exclusively by Radio-Coteau and farmed organically, lies on a stretch of Vine Hill Road renowned for its Goldridge soils. Notoriously composed yet powerful, Alberigi expresses the purity of this special region. Grown in a cooler pocket of the Russian River Valley. Fermented with 26% whole-cluster inclusion, and following an 18-month élevage in both barrel and puncheon with 30% new, tight-grained French oak, the Alberigi is a fresh, fragrant expression of Russian River Valley fruit.
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Radio Coteau Belay Pinot Noir
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Planted on a ridge top above the town of Occidental, Belay is our Demeter certified Biodynamic. Estate Pinot Noir. Our goal is to nurture the fruit from grape to glass, which increasingly becomes a reality with each Estate planting. As we become more vertically integrated, we find winegrowing a monumental task akin to climbing a mountain, with the Belay serving as both an anchor and stepping stone on our journey of ascension. With a 16-month élevage in one-third new French oak, we chose to age a portion in puncheon to further preserve the fruit purity of this special and deeply personal site.
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Radio Coteau Heinz Chardonnay
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Located just a stone’s throw across Harrison Grade from the Estate, the Heintz Ranch is a pedigreed site with mature vines in the hills above Occidental. Planted on Goldridge sandy loam soil, the organically grown fruit is nurtured by moderately warm days and cool evenings, resulting in a richness balanced by lively acidity. Aged 16 months in barrel with 25% new, tight-grained French oak, only 100 cases were produced of this exquisite coastal Chardonnay.
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Radio Coteau Savoy Chardonnay
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Burgundy has proven that quality Chardonnay and Pinot Noir can be grown in the same soil, Corton hill being the classic example. Wines from this special place inspired our decision to make Chardonnay from the Savoy Vineyard, whose soil and climate are also ideal for both Burgundian varietals. For the Savoy Chardonnay, following a gentle whole cluster press, we chose to incorporate larger format 500L puncheons over a 16-month élevage in the cellar, which elegantly preserved the fruit and freshness currently found in bottle.
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Radio Coteau Seabed Chardonnay
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Long before it was planted to vineyards, the area encompassing our Estate was under water, the floor of an ocean embayment that extended inland through modern-day Sebastopol. Through a series of tectonic shifts, the earth was ultimately transformed into the now iconic rolling hills of West Sonoma County. The sandy loam remnants of the ancient sea are still present in the Goldridge soil, and the Estate-grown SeaBed Chardonnay serves as a vestige of this history. With the vineyard blocks maturing, hitting their stride, and with clear consistency, each SeaBed bottling has featured a striking salinity befitting its marine name.
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Radio Coteau Lemorel Zinfandel
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Expressing the unique character of a cool climate Zinfandel on Goldridge soil, Radio-Coteau’s Sonoma Coast Estate vineyard resides on a sun-drenched coastal ridge top above the town of Occidental. Lemorel is a tribute to the pioneering winegrowing family, folks who not only planted some of the first coastal Zinfandel, but also built the old historic winery back in 1906, currently still in-use though retired from original intent. Following a 21-month élevage in barrel and puncheon with a modest amount of new wood, and another year of rest in bottle, the heady, expressive Lemorel is ready for immediate enjoyment.
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Radio Coteau Board & Batten Red Blend
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Board & Batten pays homage to the various barns originally constructed on the Estate in the 1890s, noted for their distinct exterior siding. In their assembly, each board and accompanying wooden strip–or batten–is an independent unit then joined together to form a strong structure. Our Proprietary Red is crafted in similar fashion, as a stand-alone Estate blend built from individual varietal expressions. A 65% Zinfandel inclusion provides the structural backbone, while the remaining Syrah fills out the mid-palate. A 20-month élevage in neutral, tight-grained French oak barrel and puncheon was further complemented by extended time in bottle prior to release, yielding a harmonious amalgam of two robust Estate varietals.