Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2013 Pinot Noir Ryan comes from a 28-year-old Martini Pinot Noir selection that was planted in 1981 in the Widdoes Vineyard in the Russian River Valley. This wine displays greater ripeness and richness, with some notes of fresh mushrooms intermixed with blackcurrant and black cherry. It is the ripest and most concentrated of the Pinot Noirs and long. Drink it over the next 7-8 years.
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Connoisseurs' Guide
Sporting a full measure of concentrated, optimally ripened black cherry fruit that is overlain by a careful veneer of creamy, slightly toasty oak, DuMOL’s “ryan” is a deep, relatively full-bodied Pinot that shows great continuity and steady focus. It firms and takes on a slight touch of tannic toughness after a supple, near-velvety entry, and it wants very much for a few years of smoothing. It has the substance and structure to argue strongly for at least mid-term cellaring, and it should remain vital and rich beyond its tenth birthday.
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.