Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
With a majority of Pommard clone in this wine contributing to its undeniable breadth and depth, this rich, rewarding wine will benefit from further time in bottle. Sultry baking spice accents kirsch and strawberry, with understudies of tar, rose garden and tannin, all framed by moderate acidity. Cellar through 2023.
Cellar Selection -
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2013 Pinot Noir Russian River Reserve Estate, which I assume is a selection of the best lots or barrels in the cellar, has a deep ruby color, beautiful depth, aromatics and overall richness. This has a slightly deeper, plusher mouthfeel than its siblings, beautiful purity, and is a classic textbook Pinot Noir from the Russian River. Any winery would be proud of this wine, which shows the enormous progress that has been made with this varietal in California. While long and luscious, it should drink well for 7-8 years.
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Wine Spectator
Tight and backward, with a core of concentrated red and dark berry, cedary oak, anise and loamy earth notes. Best served with some aeration. Most impressive on the finish, where the tannins give the flavors traction. Drink now through 2024.
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.