Winemaker Notes
The dense garnet hue is a prelude to the depth and complexity of this generous, full-bodied Pinot Noir. Enticing aromas of black raspberry and boysenberry harmoniously mingle with facets of violet, lavender and savory hints of sage. Exuberant black cherry, raspberry and bramble berries greet the palate followed by subtle notes of wild strawberry, spice, and cola. Refined, supple tannins and the Fort Ross Vineyard signature minerality are revealed through the layered, velvety finish. With its lively acidity and extraordinary balance, this fine Pinot Noir will elegantly evolve.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Tangy red cherry, rose petal and spicy cola combine on the palate around softened, silky tannins. Though smooth in feel, the palate still offers plenty of defined structure and elegant acidity.
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James Suckling
Lots of dried berry, meat and walnut aromas follow through to a full body, with layers of fruit and a juicy finish. Hints of chocolate and vanilla underneath it. Drink or hold.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Pale to med ruby in color, the 2014 Pinot Noir Fort Ross Vineyard seems just a little reduced/tarry to begin, soon giving way to fragrant raspberries, wild strawberries and underbrush notes with touches of game and lavender. Light-bodied with a silky, sophisticated palate, it delivers lovely energy and lingering earthy flavors.
Rating: 90+
Thin-skinned, finicky and temperamental, Pinot Noir is also one of the most rewarding grapes to grow and remains a labor of love for some of the greatest vignerons in Burgundy. Fairly adaptable but highly reflective of the environment in which it is grown, Pinot Noir prefers a cool climate and requires low yields to achieve high quality. Outside of France, outstanding examples come from in Oregon, California and throughout specific locations in wine-producing world. Somm Secret—André Tchelistcheff, California’s most influential post-Prohibition winemaker decidedly stayed away from the grape, claiming “God made Cabernet. The Devil made Pinot Noir.”
On the far western edge of the larger Sonoma Coast appellation, the Fort Ross-Seaview AVA hugs right up against the Pacific coast. Vineyards, planted at rugged elevations between 920 to 1,800 feet, occupy only two percent of the total land in the AVA. Fort Ross-Seaview growers believe that the region boasts an ideal mix of sunshine, cool air and beneficial stress for producing high quality Chardonnay and Pinot noir.