Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Tasting Panel
This release shows what a spectacular vintage this was for the Russian River Valley. This complex red shows off the terroir of this region, one of the “romantic” AVAs for Pinot Noir in California, through its silky, perky, and feminine nature. On the nose, earth and candied rhubarb engage with red licorice and raspberry jam. Aged ten months on primary lees in 35% new French oak, it shows bright, vivacious acidity and a cranberry-cherry-cola crossover kissed with spearmint.
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Wine Enthusiast
From a blend of iconic sites, like Rochioli, Hallberg and Martaella, this opens with thick, dense and concentrated tones of dried cherry and cola before unleashing a wealth of white pepper and black tea. It finds a balance between the fruit and the forest elements on the midpalate, finishing in silky brilliance.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Pale to medium ruby-purple colored, the 2016 Pinot Noir Russian River Selection has quite an earthy nose of garrigue, mossy bark and underbrush with a core of cranberries and red currants plus a waft of lavender. Light to medium-bodied with a chewy frame and crisp line of freshness, the delicate red berry and earth layers provide great expression with impressive length.
Rating: 90+ -
Wine & Spirits
This is a blend from seven vineyards in Russian River Valley, from the Middle Reach to the Santa Rosa Plain and Green Valley. It starts with dark tones of earth and smoky oak, needing a day of air to clarify into brighter notes of pomegranate, tart purple plum and peach at the pit. Oak integrates into the wine, firming it up, bringing a meatiness that would complement grilled pork chops and pomegranate salsa.
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Wine Spectator
Minerally, with focused and pure-tasting cherry, plum and currant flavors that are backed by zesty acidity. Slate and spice accents show on the finish. Drink now through 2023.
Imagine a winemaking region just hours north of San Francisco rich in diversity and distinctive terroir, a well-kept secret tucked amongst the towering redwoods and influenced by the Pacific Ocean. Over half a century ago, pioneering growers recognized the Russian River Valley as a place that just might produce Pinot Noir that rivaled the villages of Burgundy. After decades of winemaking and selective planting, their valley has become internationally known for producing Pinot that is distinctly American and reflects the natural influences of their terroir.
Gary Farrell Winemaker, Theresa Heredia, grape growers and other winemakers within the Russian River Valley have always recognized that certain regions of the valley produced distinctly different wines. Since the 2014 Vintage, they have been monitoring whether characteristics like aroma, texture and others can be attributed to specific sections of the Valley. This deep dive into Russian River Pinot Noir has become the Neighborhoods Initiative that is also a hallmark of their Single Vineyard winemaking, and their elevated Salon experiences.
The concept of a neighborhood is truly an American idea, and is more concerned with defining the characteristics a specific cluster of vineyards produce than defining the geographical boundaries. It’s both a sense of community and terroir at the same time
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.