Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2016 Pinot Noir Graham Family Vineyard comes from a vineyard in the Russian River and spent 15 months in 47% new French oak. It has a perfumed bouquet of cherry blossoms, white flowers, smoked applewood, and earth. Medium-bodied, rounded, supple, and seamless on the palate, I love its balance, as well as its texture.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Medium ruby in color, the 2016 Pinot Noir Graham Family Vineyard features lovely cola, Bing cherry and blackberry notes with autumn leaves, tobacco and smoke—very classic nose. Medium-bodied with a great core of concentrated fruit and loads of earthy accents, it has grainy tannins to support and a long, spicy 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.