Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Pale to medium ruby in the glass, the 2017 Jackson Estate Pinot Noir Anderson Valley, aged nine months in 32% new French oak, opens with blueberries, Cran-Apple, forest floor, Bing cherries and cranberries with a spicy core. It's light to medium-bodied, silky and intense with grainy tannins and juicy freshness on the long, spicy finish. 3,540 cases produced.
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Wine Enthusiast
Light oak spices shade lots of fresh red-fruit flavors in this medium-bodied, generous and nicely balanced wine. It is well rounded and smooth on the palate, getting better with each sip.
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2017 Pinot Noir Jackson Estate Anderson Valley is another solid effort. Offering more density and depth than the Grand Reserve, it has loads of black cherry fruits, notes of Christmas spice and sassafras, medium body, and a great finish.
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.