Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A seductive, luscious Pinot Noir in the making is the 2007 Pinot Noir Russian River. The good news is that there are 2,700 cases of this wine, which exhibits sweet plum and black cherry notes intermixed with forest floor, cloves, and spice. The wine is rich, fresh, medium to full-bodied, and long. This is a blend of five or so vineyards, and also a blend of not only Dijon clone material but also old California heritage clones such as the Martini, Calera, and Swan. This wine should drink nicely for 4-5 years. Range: 90-93
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Wine Spectator
Offers a rich, concentrated core of spicy berry, black cherry and plum. Full-bodied, this is a touch raw and tannic midpalate, but still where you'd want a wine this age to be. Most impressive on the long, lingering finish.
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.