Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2009 Pinot Noir High Plains comes across as a bit more structured and powerful than the Altamont. It shows lovely focus and energy in its dark red cherries, cola, flowers and sweet spices, all supported by vibrant layers of minerality that give the wine its shape and focus. This is Dehlinger’s first Pinot vineyard to ripen. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2024.
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Wine Spectator
Intense, with vivid wild berry, raspberry and red and black licorice notes, gaining depth and persistence. Adds a touch of mineral, but returns to the red berry and blackberry themes on the finish.
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.