Winemaker Notes
Revealing aromas of dark berry fruit, wild sage, and chaparral with pops of vine-ripened raspberry. Thoughtfully well-balanced with silken waves of boysenberry, black cherry, and an electric acidity that leads to a long-lasting mineral finish.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
The wildly expressive and just plain awesome aromas of this single-vineyard expression from an iconic vineyard blast the nose with intense black raspberry, black cherry, rhubarb pie and star anise aromas. The structure grabs the palate tightly right away, giving a stage for the pure flavors of black cherry sorbet, mint, caramel and star anise to entertain long into the finish.
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James Suckling
Fantastic purity of aromas of graphite, oyster shell, dark fruits and mandarin orange. Then salt and cloves. Medium to full body, with lots of tannin tension and a savory juicy finish. Salty and umami tannins.
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.