Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2020 Pinot Noir DuMOL Estate Vineyard is resinous with pine, forested earth, and kirsch. The palate has another gear of intensity and is full with ripe tannins and a long finish. The palate gives way to cherry pit, rocky soil, and spice. Hold for a few years and drink over the following 15 or more years.
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James Suckling
This is so crunchy and happy with sliced-strawberry and lemon-rind character. It’s medium-to full-bodied with fine tannins that are wrapped up in bright acidity. Wonderful energy.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Medium ruby-purple, the 2020 Pinot Noir Estate Vineyard is fragrant and floral, with blueberry, cranberry and pomegranate fruit and wafts of dried violet and tangerine peel. The medium-bodied palate is surprisingly concentrated with ripe, fragrant fruit. It has a grainy, refreshing frame and a long finish loaded with floral perfume. So expressive!
Respect for the land
DuMOL is a “vineyard up” winery with a fully integrated approach to winegrowing and winemaking. DuMOL planted its high-density estate vineyards and has farmed many of California’s most renowned vineyards for more than two decades.
Commitment to craft
DuMOL sticks to what works and is focused on the fundamentals, finding inspiration in master, visionary producers around the world as DuMOL continually hones its craft—never imitating, ever refining.
Connected on a personal level
This is a project that comes from who the DuMOL team is and what they love. A deep connection is paramount: to the land, the wines, and the customers.
Heritage and experience
Founded in 1996, DuMOL is a latter-day pioneer in the Russian River Valley. Winemaker, Viticulturist and Partner, Andy Smith, farmed the region for nearly a decade before joining in 1999, and Associate Winemakers Julie Cooper and Jenna Davis, and Cellar Master Jaime Eufracio, have over 40 years combined experience at DuMOL.
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.