Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
An impressive offering, undeniably rich and concentrated, with potent dark berry and licorice flavors. Offers an element of finesse and refinement, enhanced by aromatic floral scents. Drink now through 2024.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
Staying elegant and true, the stylish, red-fruited 2015 J Vineyards Pinot Noir shows up on the palate with brightness and vitality. The wine's raciness pairs it well with seared wild salmon. (Tasted: March 20, 2017, San Francisco, CA)
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.