Winemaker Notes
Juicy black and red cherry bring down the house with this wine. Elegant cinnamon and baking spice notes from the barrel integrate well with the rich and bright red fruit, together making this a great example and expression of Russian River Valley Pinot Noir.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Lush and mouth filling, yet also vibrant with tangy acidity, this mouth-watering wine brings on the red and black cherries, cinnamon and raspberry flavors backed by moderate tannins. Its great balance will help it age quite well for several years. Best through 2030.
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.