Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A completely different beast than the Donum Vineyard Pinot Noir, the 2014 Pinot Noir Cuvee Number One comes from the Lakeview Vineyard in Green Valley (Russian River) and is a mix of Pommard and 115 clones. Its vibrant purple color is followed by a ripe, yet incredibly well-defined bouquet of violets, plums, jammy blackberries, exotic spice and crushed flowers. Silky, seamless, medium to full-bodied and graceful, with bright acidity, it needs 2-3 years of bottle age, and will drink nicely through 2024+.
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Wine Spectator
Lightly aromatic yet deceptively assertive, with zesty acidity sustaining the delicate flavors of earth and wild berry. Ends with a charming watermelon aftertaste.
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.