Winemaker Notes
The 2019 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir shows a youthful, bright, deep black cherry color in the glass. With an intriguing nose of rhubarb, blackberries, wild mushrooms, and wet earth, this wine holds a lot in store for the future. The enticing palate of full fruit ?avors and a hint of reduction also predict a long life, with berries and high acidity rounding out the long ?nish.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Pale ruby, the 2019 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley offers bright red fruits with accents of Earl Grey tea leaves, violet and earth. The palate is lifted and juicy with finely accented red fruits and a lingering spiciness on the finish.
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.