Winemaker Notes
The 2017 Hallberg Ranch is simply bursting with flavors that recount the story of this beautiful vintage. Aromas of red and blue fruits, fresh and dried flowers, and sweet and dark spices are offered up in complex layers that are pure and elegant.
Professional Ratings
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Tasting Panel
The current vintage is an earth mother, bequeathing notes of bright cherry, beetroot, and soy sauce. Elegant, with a slightly chewy mouthfeel, it brings tangerine peel in on the mid-palate, and dried flowers are exotically spiced on the finish.
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Wine Enthusiast
With Winemaker David Lattin now at the helm, this vintage packs a punch of grace and power. Rose, lavender and earth tones accent a juicy black-cherry core, with crisp acidity sitting alongside a hint of nutmeg.
Editors' Choice
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.