Winemaker Notes
A powerful muscular wine with layers of deep fruit and classic Californian broad texture, but always nuanced, complex and fresh, never heavy or simple.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Medium to deep ruby-purple colored, the 2016 Pinot Noir Ryan has notions of crushed black cherries, blackberries and black raspberries with touches of anise, fertile loam, truffles and dark chocolate. Medium-bodied with a firm frame of grainy tannins and bags of freshness, it finishes long with a firm, compelling grip.
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Jeb Dunnuck
From the cooler Green Valley portion of the Russian River, the 2016 Pinot Noir Widdoes Vineyard shows the classic, balanced, yet sexy style of this vintage. Terrific black raspberries, blueberries, ground herbs, and floral notes all emerge from this medium to full-bodied, forward, textured 2016 that has good acidity and impeccable balance. It’s going to keep for 10-12 years, although there’s no need to delay gratification either.
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Wine Spectator
Elegant, with concentrated poached plum, cherry tart and dark currant flavors that feature rich, loamy accents. Mineral and spice notes emerge on the vibrant finish. Drink now through 2024.
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.