Winemaker Notes
The glass fills with a ruby red color with hints of plum. Aromas of raspberry tart, blueberry, dried rosemary, and molasses. The palate cascades with old layers of blackberry, strawberry, and boysenberry pie, gives way to flavors of cocoa, nutmeg, and brown sugar. A full-bodied wine, balanced by refreshing acidity on the long finish.
This Pinot Noir pairs excellent grilled rosemary lamb chops with potatoes au gratin, smoked brisket burger, or eggplant Parmesan.
Professional Ratings
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2018 Böen Russian River Valley Pinot Noir plays it up with lasting richness on the palate. TASTING NOTES: This wine deftly combines well-defined black fruit and oak in its aromas and flavors. Match it with grilled lamb chops. (Tasted: September 1, 2020, San Francisco, CA)
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.