Winemaker Notes
The Estate wines are made to be fresh and drink earlier than the vineyard designate wines. The Estate parcel for Pinot Noir is at the northern most spot in the vineyard and is planted to the Rochioli clone.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Moving to the reds, the 2023 Pinot Noir The Estate Vineyards boasts an expressive nose, with spicy aromas of cedar, incense, ripe cherries, and crushed flowers. The palate is zesty upfront, with a medium-bodied, frame, a slightly stemmy texture, fine tannins, and clean finish. It’s prime for drinking now or over the next 5-6 years.
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Vinous
The 2023 Pinot Noir Estate Vineyards is a terrific introduction to this range. It needs time, but a bit of coaxing reveals a Pinot endowed with notable textural presence and resonance. Expressive floral, savory and earthy notes add character throughout.
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.