Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
-
James Suckling
Purity of fruit is the phrase here. Strawberry and flower. Rose petal. Full body, round and velvety tannins. Soft and juicy. The KB character with tension.
-
Jeb Dunnuck
From a five-acre site of alluvial soils, all from clone 667 and made with 10% whole and aged in 35% new barrels, the 2015 Pinot Noir Koplen Vineyard is about as classic a California Pinot Noir as you can find. Savory notes of dried black cherries, mulberries, earth, mushrooms and dried spices all flow to a juicy, full-bodied, sexy, yet balanced 2015 that’s just packed with character. With solid mid-palate depth, ripe tannin and a great finish, drink this textbook Russian River Valley Pinot Noir over the coming decade.
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.