Francis Ford Coppola Director's Cut Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2012
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2012 delivered extremely well-balanced fruit with an amazing fragrance and deep, full body. It also offered excellent color, which we bring out by pressing in whole clusters. The fruit goes into open-top fermenters where punch downs are performed several times each day. When fermentation is complete, the wine is placed in French oak barrels for about 10 months of maturation; the wine is racked several times. Lush on the palate and velvety in texture, this Director's Cut Pinot Noir unleashes a beautiful perfume of raspberries, rose petals and cloves, followed by deep, dark flavors of cherries and plums, sensuous spices, earthy notes, tea leaves and sandalwood, all of which build and linger on the finish.
Other Vintages
2015-
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Francis Ford Coppola Winery, re-opened in July 2010, is the latest venture from Francis Ford Coppola, whose passion for wine, food and adventure is nowhere more evident than in this new production – a winery resort located in the heart of Alexander Valley, California. Among the many attractions at the property, Francis Ford Coppola Winery features a wine tasting bar, two restaurants, swimming pools, a movie gallery, a performing arts pavilion and a park area with game tables and bocce courts.
Francis puts it best, saying the winery is meant to be "a wine wonderland, a park of pleasure where people of all ages can enjoy all the best things in life – food, wine, music, dancing, games, swimming and performances of all types. A place to celebrate the love of life."
While the Russian River Valley is a large appellation with multiple climate zones and soil types, it is best known for cool-climate varieties, with Pinot Noir as the most celebrated. The grapes benefit from a reliable late afternoon flow of Pacific Ocean fog through the Petaluma Gap and along the Russian River Valley that ensures slow and steady ripening and the preservation of grape acidity. Today many of California’s most highly regarded Pinot Noir vineyards are in the Russian River Valley, along with its sub-appellation, Green Valley.
Historically Russian River Valley Pinot Noirs had bright red fruit and delicate earthy, mineral notes. But changes in viticultural and winemaking practices have led to stylistic changes in some of the region’s wines. Adjustments to canopy management, among other techniques, have resulted in riper fruit and bolder wines as well. These show flavors of black cherry, blackberry, cola, spice and darker, loamy earth tones, accenting traditional Pinot Noir notes of strawberry, raspberry and light cherry.