Winemaker Notes
This Pinot Noir exhibits aromas of dark cherry, raspberry, strawberry and spice. On the palate, it delivers generous black cherry, black raspberry and cranberry with notes of earth and black tea. Elegant, balanced, lush and focused. The mouthful is ample and plush gaining depth with a lingering velvety finish.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A generous, vivid, full-bodied red that shows cherry, pine and tea flavors with moderate tannins. Red cherry, orange pekoe tea and cranberry aromas, then rich black cherry, dark plum, spearmint and evergreen flavors.
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Wine Enthusiast
The nose of this wine displays generous raspberry and cola aromas. On the palate, waves of orange peel acidity are balanced by star anise, black cherry and tart plum flavors in a rich, but not heavy framework.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Ripe red/ruby-colored, the 2022 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley offers expressive notes of dried cherries, anise, fresh violets, lifted spices, and forest floor. Medium-bodied, it has a refined feel on the palate, with fine tannins and even, balanced acidity through to its floral and elegant finish. Drink 2025-2035.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
The 2022 Domaine Della Russian River Valley Pinot Noir is definitive and complete on the palate. This wine shows aromas and flavors of spice box, a suggestion of sarsaparilla, and ripe strawberries. Try it with a delicately spiced lamb stew. (Tasted: October 12, 2024, San Francisco, CA)
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.