Winemaker Notes
Pairs wonderfully with confit of duck with black cherry sauce, pasta with truffles, and a selection of cheeses such as brie and taleggio.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Delicious, ripe fruit flavors form the core of this generous but well-balanced wine that almost bursts with raspberry, black cherry and mint character. It's technically light bodied, but very mouthfilling.
Editors' Choice -
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2017 Pinot Noir Walraven Vineyard has a pale ruby color and very pretty aromas of bergamot tea leaves, licorice, dried cherries and cranberries with loads of spices and earthy notions in the background. Medium-bodied, the palate is silky and super fresh with wonderfully layered fruits and a long, floral 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.