Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The impressive, dense ruby/purple-colored 2001 Pinot Noir Hein (277 cases produced from Dijon clones 115, 667, and 777) offers a big, sweet nose of black fruits intermixed with acacia flowers and smoky oak. The wood integration is beautiful, and the wine shows tremendous palate presence with intense concentration yet surprising elegance and overall balance.
-
Wine Spectator
A wonderful, elegant Pinot that combines ripe, complex, juicy black cherry and blackberry fruit with fine-grained tannins and a pleasing, earthy pencil lead quality on the finish.
Anderson Valley, located in Mendocino County just above Sonoma County, is one of California’s coolest AVAs, allowing it a long growing season. Only 15 miles long, the region makes a slice eastward through the mountains, from the frigid Pacific Ocean. Dramatic diurnal temperature variations here preserve grape acidity and thus freshness in the finished wines. These are prime conditions for growing Pinot Noir, and the valley produces many fine versions. Characteristics of Anderson Valley Pinot Noir typically include crisp acidity, cranberry and strawberry notes as well as earthy notes of forest floor and mushroom.
Still Pinot Noir, however, is only part of the story. Pinot Noir, along with Chardonnay, are also grown for Anderson Valley’s exceptional sparkling wines. Produced via the traditional method, these offer a classic toasty note from lees aging, bright, complex fruit notes and a clean, refreshing character.