Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Beautiful, broad, black-fruit flavors and a nicely firm texture make this widely available wine both tempting and fresh. Gorgeous black cherries, blueberries, black tea and redwood forest aromas and flavors are backed by good, crunchy acidity and moderate tannins. Drink now or hold.
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Wine Enthusiast
Aromas of dusty cherry, Darjeeling, rose petals and fried shiitake lift the nose of this Pinot. The palate is beautifully balanced, with bright acidity, plush tannin and seamless oak integration. Gorgeous now, this will blossom with a few years in the cellar, so be patient.
Cellar Selection -
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2023 Pinot Noir has pure aromas of pomegranate, raspberry, earth, rooibos tea and graham cracker. The medium-bodied palate is powerful yet elegant, characterized by particularly refined tannins and vibrant acidity. It offers concentrated, crunchy fruit flavors and has a long, spicy finish.
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Vinous
The 2023 Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley) is a super-classic wine packed with Russian River exuberance. A burst of dark red/purplish fruit, rose petal, lavender and sweet spice races across the palate. Plump, juicy and inviting, the 2023 is a total knockout. All of this fruit is from estate vineyards.
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Wine Spectator
This has solid, punchy drive, with pomegranate, cherry and blood orange pâte de fruit flavors in the mix, along with hibiscus and lilac notes. Stays fresh and engaging through the finish. Best from 2026 through 2031.
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.