Matthew Fritz Pinot Noir 2017
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Wong
Wilfred
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Winemaker Notes
Matt Bonanno and Fritz Stuhlmuller make the blends at Stuhlmuller Vineyards in Healdsburg and bottle Matthew Fritz in Geyserville in Sonoma County. The 2017 Mathew Fritz Pinot Noir was sourced from two vineyard sites. One vineyard is located at the headwaters of the Russian River in Mendocino and the other is comprised from the rolling hill region of northern Ukiah, Redwood Valley.
Their 2017 is a medium ruby red in color. The wine has intense aromas of red cherries rhubarb and violet. The palate is framed by firm acidity and loaded with wild berries, allspice, forest floor and hints of crushed tea leaf. This wine is an elegant expression from a classic vintage.
Professional Ratings
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: A great Pinot Noir value is generally impossible to find. The 2017 Matthew Fritz hits the mark. TASTING NOTES: This wine is bright and balanced. Its aromas and flavors of cranberries and strawberries are unsurpassed and should pair nicely with grilled wild king salmon. (Tasted: August 31, 2018, San Francisco, CA)
Other Vintages
2019-
Wong
Wilfred
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.”
Reaching up California's coastline and into its valleys north of San Francisco, the North Coast AVA includes six counties: Marin, Solano, Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino and Lake. While Napa and Sonoma enjoy most of the glory, the rest produce no shortage of quality wines in an intriguing and diverse range of styles.
Climbing up the state's rugged coastline, the chilly Marin County, just above the City and most of Sonoma County, as well as Mendocino County on the far north end of the North Coast successfully grow cool-climate varieties like Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and in some spots, Riesling. Inland Lake County, on the other hand, is considerably warmer, and Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel and Sauvignon Blanc produce some impressive wines with affordable price tags.