Winemaker Notes
Crafted from some of the finest Russian River Valley Pinot Noir grapes, our 2017 O.F.S. Pinot Noir is bursting with aromas of ripe, red cherry and raspberry with a hint of orange zest and a touch of star anise. On the palate, bold flavors of black cherry, red currant, dark chocolate and a touch of licorice lead to a medium body with bight acidity and a long lasting, luxurious and clean finish.
Professional Ratings
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Wine & Spirits
Brian Maloney selects fruit for OFS (“our finest selection”) from sites including DeLoach’s estate vineyard, Starkey and BCD, blending a wine with balletic grace in 2017. It moves from delicate rose scents into darker shadows of richness and spice, circling back to red-fruit brightness, leaving the mouth with a sense of freshness. The wine’s gentle persistence draws you back for another sip. It’s complete rather than complex, a wine to enjoy on its own or with poached salmon. Best Buy
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Wine Spectator
Offers a powerfully spicy aroma, with flavors to match, featuring rich and crunchy red currant, dark cherry and raspberry components. The fruity finish is crisp and vibrant, revealing forest floor accents. Drink now through 2024.
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.