Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Medium ruby-purple in color, the 2014 Pinot Noir Estate offers earth and dried herb notes to begin, giving way to a core of red and black cherries and mulberries, plus suggestions of lavender and garrigue. Full-bodied and richly fruited in the mouth, it has a great backbone of grainy tannins and refreshing acid supporting the generous red and black berry flavors, finishing long and earthy.
Rating: 92+ -
Wine Spectator
Tightly wound, focused on an intense core of loamy earth, dusty cedary oak and dried berry flavors, fanning out to anise and nutmeg notes. Ends with a lingering, layered 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.