Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Juicy dark cherries, cloves, new leather, licorice and asphalt are all woven together beautifully in Mark Aubert’s 2011 Pinot Noir Ritchie Vineyard. Despite its considerable size and volume, the 2011 possesses stunning detail, nuance and freshness. Rose petals, violets and plums all grace a finish that stands out for its total elegance and class. I hope readers can appreciate how rare it is to find a wine with both this level of depth and nuance. Aromatically, the Ritchie Pinot has much in common with the Chardonnays from the same site, although I realize that may sound a bit esoteric. Maybe, but it’s true.
The Sonoma Coast AVA is large in area but, not counting overlapping regions like Russian River Valley, only has a few thousand acres of grapevines—and it’s no wonder. Much of the region is rugged and not easily accessible. Its proximity to the Pacific Ocean’s fog and cool breezes limits the varieties that can be cultivated, but it proves to be an ideal environment for high quality Pinot Noir.
Since fog is a frequent fact of life here, as are heavy marine layers that sometimes bring rain, the best vineyards are wisely planted above the fog line, on picturesque ridges that capture enough sun to provide even ripening. That, with the overnight drop in temperature that reliably preserves acidity, results in fine expressions of Pinot Noir that often receive tremendous critic and consumer praise alike, and are often in high demand.