Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Exceptionally high quality as well as remarkably fair prices are the signature characteristics of one of California’s longtime, highly respected wine mavens, Tom Dehlinger. His Chardonnays continue to improve with each vintage. In the challenging year of 2006, he has had no problems with either Chardonnay or Pinot Noir. Dehlinger’s Pinot Noirs are essentially made from the Pommard clone, Dijon Clone 777, and the California Heritage clone known as Martini. Tom Dehlinger turns out two wines from Bordeaux varietals. One always thinks of Russian River for its Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, and Syrah rather than for Cabernet Sauvignon. One of the original Rhone Rangers, Tom Dehlinger fashions two Syrahs.
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.