Winemaker Notes
This 2018 Pinot Noir exhibits aromas of dark cherry, raspberry, strawberry and spice. The 2018 Russian River delivers generous black cherry, black raspberry and cranberry with notes of earth and black tea. Elegant, balanced, lush and focused. Mouthful is ample and plush gaining depth with a lingering velvety finish.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Readers looking for a textbook Russian River Pinot should check out the 2018 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley. Offering up a medium ruby hue as well as lots of spiced red fruits, cola, leafy herbs, and flowery incense, it's medium to full-bodied and has a wonderful sense of balance and purity, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It's a big wine (over 15% alcohol), yet it still comes across as light and graceful.
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James Suckling
This has mossy, earthy aromas, alongside red plum, ripe blueberry and dried citrus zest. Hints of ash and dark chocolate. It’s medium-to full-bodied with fine, tight tannins and bright acidity. Flavorful and precise finish.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Medium ruby in color, the 2018 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley is scented of red cherries and cranberries with notes of orange peel, tobacco leaf and underbrush. The light-bodied palate has great intensity and nuance, grainy and fresh with a long finish.
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Wine Spectator
Svelte, offering vibrant, well-knit flavors of red currant, dried berry and plum. Cedar and spice notes show on the linear, minerally finish. Drink now through 2024. 400 cases made.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2018 Domaine Della Russian River Valley Pinot Noir does an excellent job of combining the fruit of the grape with earthy nuances. TASTING NOTES: This wine is balanced and firm on the palate. Enjoy its forthright aromas and flavors of red fruit, spice, and earth. Pair with a grilled ribeye.
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.