Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Coming from the Russian River Valley and an estate vineyard that was purchased in 2012, the rich, gorgeously layered and textured 2014 Pinot Noir Keefer Ranch Vineyard offers an exotic fruit profile, with notions of cassis, passion fruit, spice and dried flowers all emerging from the glass. Full-bodied, layered and rich, yet with the purity and precision that's present in all of these 2014s, drink bottles anytime over the coming decade, and I certainly wouldn't be surprised to see it keep for longer.
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Wine Spectator
Gushes with fresh, snappy cherry, raspberry and wild berry flavors enlivened by zesty acidity and firm, fine-grained tannins. Offers a juicy, supple texture and striking velocity to the fruit flavors. Drink now through 2022.
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.