Winemaker Notes
The 2022 vintage provided the raw materials to produce a Russian River Valley Pinot Noir with vibrant fruit and exotic spice aromas and layered texture. Aromas are dominated by red fruit tones of Queen Anne Cherry and Pomegranate, while black fruits dominate on the palate. The vibrant aromas expand and give way to red plum, black cherry, and complex baking spices. The wine has integrated acidity and fine tannins on the palate that should allow for mid-term cellaring. As always, the wine was bottled without fining or filtration.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
A deep ruby color, the 2022 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley opens to notes of cherry cordial, dark chocolate, baking spice, and forest earth. The palate is elegant and refined, with silky tannins, even acidity, and a more red-fruited feel coming through, and it has nicely defined length and a focused finish.
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Wine Spectator
Plump and juicy in feel, with a mix of lightly mulled cherry and boysenberry fruit backed by a light red licorice accent on the finish. A crowd-pleaser.
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.