Winemaker Notes
Critical Acclaim
All VintagesFrom a vintage compared to 2005 by Smith, who also described 2014 as one of the best for the region ever for Pinot Noir, the 2014 Pinot Noir Finn shows the balance, elegance, and length that defines the vintage. Black currants, smoked herbs, mulberries, and exotic spice notes all emerge from this medium to full-bodied 2014 that still has some youthful tannins and exuberant fruit. I love its balance and accessibility, yet I suspect it will keep for over a decade.
Beautifully proportioned, with acidity, tannins and rich, juicy wild berry flavors working together. This baby needs time before it can walk and run, but the signs are all there. A laser beam of Pinot. Drink now through 2024.
Founded in 1996, DuMOL is a vineyard focused producer of cool-climate Russian River Valley Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah, and Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon from exceptional vineyards. They are a “vineyard up” winery with a fully integrated approach to winegrowing and winemaking. Working intimately with their many unique sites — some for more than two decades — they strive to present the purest essence of the vineyard and vintage. At 3,630 vines per acre, DuMOL’s estate parcels in the Russian River Valley are among the most densely planted vineyards in North America.
Winemaker, viticulturist and partner, Andy Smith, has been at the helm of DuMOL’s continuous evolution since 1999. He and his close-knit team of three employ winemaking that is classical and intuitive, responsive to the needs of each wine, with the least “technique” necessary. Andy explains, “Each bottling is built in the vineyard. Soil types, microclimates, plant material, maturity levels, how the vines react to the growing conditions, how we react to the vines – there are so many detailed variables. The nuance, the depth and complexity of the fruit that results from those variables, that’s what we aim to achieve and translate to bottle: purity, vibrancy, freshness – intensity without heaviness.”
DuMOL has held the core principle, since inception, to be responsible stewards for their surrounding environment both in their vineyards and in their winemaking. Built in 2008, their winery was the first “green” facility in the Windsor township, 100% solar powered and utilizing a bioreactor system to reduce all waste water impact from winery processing activities to below that of a single-family household. Beyond its environmental considerations, the winery was strategically designed by Andy Smith to optimize the vinification of DuMOL’s many individual wine lots with custom small-lot fermentation tanks to include a Tuscan terracotta Amphora fermenter.
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.
