Sequana Dutton Ranch Green Valley Pinot Noir 2009
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A shade off from the past few vintages, but still a nice Pinot Noir. Showing crisp acidity and some firm tannins, it’s sweet and forward in black raspberry, cherry, cola and spice flavors. Drink over the next 2–3 years.
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Winemaker and Pinot Noir specialist, James MacPhail, has complete control over the creation of Sequana's limited production wines – from farming to winemaking. He understands Pinot Noir's temperament, its ability to convey the signature of each single vineyard and its preference for restrained, gentle winemaking. He makes his Pinot Noirs by hand in small batches, using cold maceration and native yeasts. "My goal is to express each vineyard’s personality," says James.
Thin-skinned, finicky and temperamental, Pinot Noir is also one of the most rewarding grapes to grow and remains a labor of love for some of the greatest vignerons in Burgundy. Fairly adaptable but highly reflective of the environment in which it is grown, Pinot Noir prefers a cool climate and requires low yields to achieve high quality. Outside of France, outstanding examples come from in Oregon, California and throughout specific locations in wine-producing world. Somm Secret—André Tchelistcheff, California’s most influential post-Prohibition winemaker decidedly stayed away from the grape, claiming “God made Cabernet. The Devil made Pinot Noir.”
Situated on the foggier and colder western edge of the Russian River Valley, almost abutting the Sonoma Coast appellation, Green Valley is one of California’s most reputable Chardonnay and Pinot noir producing regions. It is also a wonderful source of sparkling wines made from these varieties.
Goldridge soils abound throughout the Green Valley appellation. This fine, dark, sandy loam and fractured sandstone is derived from the remains of ancient inland seabeds dating back three to five million years. It is valuable for high quality grape growing because of its excellent drainage and low fertility.