Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2012 Pinot Noir Russian River, which comes from 7 different vineyards and multiple clones, is the largest cuvée, 4,775 cases. Notes of forest floor, wild strawberries, sweet raspberries and cherries notes in addition to roasted meats and herbs are all present in this gorgeous, perfumed, medium to full-bodied, silky textured, pure Pinot Noir. This big-time winner stands up to the single-vineyard bottlings. Drink it over the next decade or more.
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Connoisseurs' Guide
Neatly matched elements of Meyer lemons, ripe apples, crème caramel and toast are teamed in the rich, well-composed aromas and iterated again in the deep and very complete flavors of this wonderfully expressive Chardonnay. The wine is at once slightly viscous, fairly mouthfilling and very energetic, and, while never impressing as a powerhouse, its potent but polished flavors last and last. It will make ideal drinking with salmon in sauce, and it has more than enough weight and richness to complement panroasted duck breasts.
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Wine Spectator
A tight, seductive style, with subtle jazzy oak notes woven into the ripe plum and blueberry flavors. The tannins close in on the finish. Drink now through 2021.
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.