Winemaker Notes
"The dark plum-colored 2000 Pinot Noir Bench Break Vineyard exhibits complex floral, currant, cherry, and blueberry characteristics. The wine is medium-bodied, with well-integrated acidity, wood, and tannin. This beautiful effort is nearly exceptional. Drink it over the next 4-5 years. This is a well-made effort, and is available for a realistic price." 89 Points
Wine Advocate
June 2002
Professional Ratings
Internationally recognized for gorgeous, pure fruit combined with great elegance, California Pinot noir thrives among the state’s cooler, coastal zones. Characterized by eclectic flavors and aromas of strawberry, black cherry, plum and potpourri with notes of forest floor, mushroom or black tea, the best California Pinot noir boast a supple texture and good acidity, giving them the ability to improve with age.
Credited with the beginning of Pinot noir’s glory in California, two growers, Joe Rochioli and Joseph Swan in the late 1960s independently planted Pinot noir vineyards in the Russian River Valley of Sonoma County. Today Sonoma County remains the leading producer of Pinot noir in the state, and Pinot noir is the leading red grape in the county, achieving its highest potential, in the Russian River Valley and Sonoma Coast.
Other coastal appellations where Pinot noir flourishes include Carneros, Anderson Valley and most of the Central Coast.