Amici Russian River Pinot Noir 2018
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James
Suckling -
Jeb
Dunnuck -
Robert
Parker
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Aromas of bright black cherry and wild berry cobbler, fresh dark pomegranate complimented with subtle notes of moist forest floor. The mouthfeel is silky yet juicy, coating and refreshing. Raspberry and cherry juice turn into a long finish that trails off with hints of umami, mushrooms and brown spice.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A fruit-forward pinot with lots of bright strawberry and cherry aromas and flavors. It’s full-bodied and layered with ripe, integrated tannins and lots of fruit at the finish. Just the right amount of bitterness at the end. Drink or hold.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Leading off the two Pinot Noirs, the 2018 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley is an outstanding wine that reveals a vivid ruby color to go with textbook notes of framboise, candied violets, orange peel, and flowery incense. It’s medium-bodied and beautifully balanced, with a nice spine of acidity and a great finish. Drink this terrific Russian River Valley Pinot Noir over the coming 5-7 years.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Medium ruby-purple colored, the 2018 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley opens with a lovely floral perfume—lilacs and lavender—over notes of black raspberries, black cherries and mulberries plus a hint of stewed tea. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is chock-full of plump, ripe, juicy fruit, supported by a lively line and fine-grained tannins, culminating in a perfumed finish.
Other Vintages
2022-
James
Suckling
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James
Suckling
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James
Suckling -
Jeb
Dunnuck
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James
Suckling -
Jeb
Dunnuck -
Robert
Parker
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James
Suckling
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James
Suckling -
Tasting
Panel
Over thirty years in the making, Amici Cellars is a blend of the old and the new. Preserving its legacy and producing wines of exceptional character is the unwavering commitment of proprietors John Harris and Bob Shepard, who attribute success in large part to the age-old adage “nothing replaces hard work,” but also their intuition and ability to capture the most significant opportunity in a decisive moment.
The turning point was 2009, when after more than 15 years of making wine as a passion project with modest distribution, the two friends fully committed to taking their adventure and turning it into a prestigious Napa Valley winemaking estate. The United States was facing the biggest economic downturn since the 1930s, costly Cabernets no longer flying off shelves, but John and Bob have always trusted in their intuition and a core belief - bottle beautiful, high quality wines that are accessible to enjoy every day and for age-worthy collections.
They have decidedly chosen a talented team, seasoned winemaker Tony Biagi, a Napa Valley veteran with more than 25-years-experience, and associate winemaker Dante West, a rising star whose energy matches his true-to-varietal wines. Together they bring decades of relationships with outstanding growers in the field that, combined with their craftsmanship, creates the best possible capsule of each vineyard site, a combination of the soil, climate and people who farm it.
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.