Winemaker Notes
A few truly amazing vineyards comprise this 2020 Russian River Selection Pinot Noir, each contributing compelling and vibrant aromas of cherry compote, black tea, rose petal, cedar and star anise. Intensely packed with flavors of black raspberry, blackberry, wild strawberry, sweet pipe tobacco, wet tea leaves and a hint of coriander on the finish. Every swirl on the tongue leaves the lips smacking with snappy acidity and firm, beautifully velvety tannins, while the persistent finish leaves you longing for the next sip.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Relatively light, dry and tangy, this medium-bodied wine has a lean elegance, buoying tart cherries, raspberries, redwood forest and black pepper flavors with good acidity and light tannins. The wine is excellent in a racy, trim style.
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.