Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2017 Pinot Noir Keefer Ranch is another beautiful, classic Pinot Noir from this estate. From the Russian River and brought up in 42% new French oak (there's some Austrian oak as well), it has a great nose of spiced strawberries, mulberries, herbes de Provence, sandalwood, and loads of spice. This carries to a medium to full-bodied, balanced, beautifully textured Pinot Noir that can be drunk today or cellared for 10-12 years.
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Wine Enthusiast
From a site that is dry-farmed, with deep vines, this Keefer is elusive on the nose at first, opening slowly and with grace. Tart, tangy raspberry and cherry glide across a rich, lushly layered palate fresh and exotic in black tea, forest floor and a touch of lemon.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Aged 19 months in 42% new French and 2% new Austrian oak, including just 1% whole cluster, the pale to medium ruby colored 2017 Pinot Noir Keefer Ranch is youthfully shy, with time giving scents of rosewater, tangerine peel, woodsmoke, crushed cranberries and raspberries with earth and bitters accents. Medium-bodied, it's open for business in the mouth, flooding the palate with perfumed red berry fruits. It has a frame of gently grainy tannins and well-woven freshness, finishing long and spicy. This property is now half-owned by Kosta Browne (Schramsberg owns the other half). 2,400 cases produced.
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Wine Spectator
Taut and well-framed, showing good cut to the dried red fruit flavors. Blueberry and minerally notes emerge midpalate, with savory richness extending on the finish. Drink now through 2025.
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.