Winemaker Notes
Aromatics: Freshly picked raspberries, wild strawberries, touches of bright cherry, crunchy red fruits and baking spice. A hint of nutmeg and star anise combined with notes of all spice and a sprinkle of morning rain. Flavors: Ripe plum, pomegranate and rhubarb-strawberry pie …unbaked with some “razzle- dazzle”. A slight hint of earthy tones and fresh forest floor, softened with a pretty ocean breeze. Mouthfeel: Clean lines, with minerality down the center, rests nicely and persists throughout, surrounded by crunchy fruits and elegant, yet firm tannins.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
I loved the 2017 Pinot Noir last year, and it didn't disappoint this go-round. Coming from a mix of sites in the Russian River Valley, its deep ruby/purple color is followed by rocking notes of black raspberries, kirsch, sappy flowers, violets, and Asian spices. These all carry to an elegant, incredibly seamless Pinot Noir that has awesome tannins, no hard edges, and just a plush, sexy style that begs to be drunk. Nevertheless, its balance and purity will all keep this drinking nicely for a solid decade.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
From several different vineyards, the 2017 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley has a gregarious nose of blackberry jam, underbrush, tar, oodles of ripe red berries, potpourri, black tea leaves and a very spicy undercurrent—lush, deep and still very youthful. Medium to full-bodied, it explodes in the mouth with loads of spicy ripe fruits firmly knit by grainy tannins and juicy acidity, finishing long and flavorful. This is a big, powerful and delicious expression, a Pinot with so much stuffing. This will be released in the fall of 2020.
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Wine Spectator
Powerful and well-structured, with pomegranate flavors that feature notes of iron, smoke and dried berry, backed by taut tannins. The savory finish is filled with dried cooking spice accents. Drink now through 2025.
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.