Winemaker Notes
This wine offers fragrant aromas of raspberry coulis, ripe red plum, juicy strawberry, and subtle baking spices, with a medium-bodied palate that highlights sun-drenched dried cranberry, delicate Alpine strawberries, and a harmonious balance of sweet and tart cherries, culminating in a lingering and memorable finish, making it an excellent pairing for brined turkey.
Professional Ratings
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Decanter
A return to higher whole-cluster inclusion and a greater proportion of Clone 828 in the blend, coupled with lower yields, defines this vintage, which followed the very dry and hot 2020 season. Lifted white pepper spice leads into cranberry and cherry fruit, delivered with elegance and fine, satiny tannins. Orange peel and dried herb nuances emerge on a building medium-bodied palate, carried by beautifully juicy acidity through the long, persistent finish.
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.