Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Brought up in 48% new French oak, sourced from a higher elevation vineyard on the southern end of the Anderson Valley, the 2015 Pinot Noir Muldune Train offers a Burgundian bouquet of ripe black cherries, currants, scorched earth, forest floor, and Asian spices. It’s complex, beautifully concentrated and opulent, with a powerful, full-bodied profile. Possessing moderate acidity, drink this pleasure-bent beauty over the coming 7-8 years.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Medium to deep ruby-purple colored, the 2015 Hartford Court Pinot Noir Muldune Trail features expressive mulberries, stewed red plums and dusty earth notes with touches of garrigue, fresh hay, oolong tea and cloves. Medium-bodied with an appealing chewy grip to the texture, the palate gives compelling savory layers with a long, lively finish.
Rating: 94+ -
Wine Enthusiast
Abundantly flavorful and full bodied, this wine has lots of dark berry and black-cherry aromas, a big rich mouthfeel and deep layered fruit flavors sprinkled with spices from cinnamon to bay leaf to black pepper. It tastes extra ripe and has the moderate tannins and good acidity to support that ripeness.
Anderson Valley, located in Mendocino County just above Sonoma County, is one of California’s coolest AVAs, allowing it a long growing season. Only 15 miles long, the region makes a slice eastward through the mountains, from the frigid Pacific Ocean. Dramatic diurnal temperature variations here preserve grape acidity and thus freshness in the finished wines. These are prime conditions for growing Pinot Noir, and the valley produces many fine versions. Characteristics of Anderson Valley Pinot Noir typically include crisp acidity, cranberry and strawberry notes as well as earthy notes of forest floor and mushroom.
Still Pinot Noir, however, is only part of the story. Pinot Noir, along with Chardonnay, are also grown for Anderson Valley’s exceptional sparkling wines. Produced via the traditional method, these offer a classic toasty note from lees aging, bright, complex fruit notes and a clean, refreshing character.