Winemaker Notes
Comprised of three of DuMOL's region's unique sub-districts, this wine blends fruits from the valley itself, with vineyards further west, stretching out to the coolest 'reaches' of the appellation's high elevation coastal ridge.
The wine's broad base is centered upon the coastal DuMOL Estate with dark fruit intensity, savory spice, and bright vibrancy. At higher elevation on a ridgetop overlooking the Green Valley, Dutton Ranch offers soaring red and black fruit characters of beautiful purity. On the deeper silty/clays of the Santa Rosa Plains, Occidental Road provides broad fruit extract and textural richness. Flax Estate overlooking the river in the Middle Reach weaves in volume, structure, and density from hillside volcanic soils. Placida on the Laguna Ridge ripens late with impressive texture and lingering mossy complexity
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Taking on a darker ruby hue, the 2022 Pinot Noir Wester Reach brings forward woodsy spice aromas, with notes of fresh cherries, pine, and peppery spices. Approachable on the palate, it offers ripe tannins, a supple texture, and a nice lift of freshness on the finish. It is a charmer for sure and is going to offer a wide drinking window over the coming 10-12 years.
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James Suckling
Pure dried strawberry and cherry fruit with some orange peel. It’s full-bodied but there is tension and focus to this, with tannins that frame it and give energy and verve. Creamy and juicy.
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Wine Enthusiast
What will you love about this wine? Maybe it's the nose that screams with Bing cherry, black tea and cola aromas. Maybe it's the powerful palate brimming with flavors of macerated raspberry, rose petal and sarsaparilla. Or the rich, plush tannins balanced by laser-like tangerine acid with a minute long finish that evolves and swirls. Maybe it's all of the above.
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Wine Spectator
This is succulent and almost bouncy in feel, with perky acidity driving the core of gently mulled cherry, raspberry and boysenberry fruit. Shows a dusting of red tea and sandalwood on the finish, where the structure holds sway at this early stage.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2022 Pinot Noir Wester Reach comes from several vineyards including Dumol Estate, Occidental Road, Dutton Ranch, Flax Estate and Placida. Grapes were harvested on August 15 and later on September 8, after the Labor Day heat wave set in. "About 15% of this wine was picked after the heat," winegrower Andy Smith says candidly. "That's that flush of riper fruit." Fermented with about 15% whole clusters, it has soft scents of strawberries, raspberries, rose petals and bitters. The medium-bodied palate is immediately approachable with its plush, spicy layers, and it has a long, perfumed finish.
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.