Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2017 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley has a brighter, juicier style than the 2016 and has beautiful notes of tart cherries, wild strawberries, spring flowers, and earth. It's elegant, medium-bodied, has nicely integrated acidity, and a clean finish. It's another beautiful wine from this estate.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The pale ruby colored 2017 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley has a pretty perfume of violet, gravel dust and tangerine peel over crushed strawberries, raspberries and sweet cherries with an earthy undercurrent. It’s medium-bodied, silky, perfumed and fresh in the mouth with a gentle frame and long, sweet berry finish. This is a super approachable Pinot Noir that should drink well over the next 2-3 years.
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Wine Spectator
Silky and rich-tasting, with graphite notes to the bright cherry, plum and raspberry tart flavors. Hints of dark chocolate and mocha appear on the minerally finish. Drink now through 2023.
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Wine Enthusiast
Juicy in black cherry and strawberry, this is an exuberant full-bodied red, with layers of refreshing acidity that complement its velvety midpalate well. Soft and textured, the tannins and oak are well integrated and add to the overall power.
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.