Winemaker Notes
This Russian River Valley Pinot Noir is pure, balanced, lush and focused. Bright, yet rich cherries are on the forefront with fresh ripe raspberries, pomegranate and a hint of strawberry developing throughout the palate, which rest generously on the top of the tongue. The lingering finish wraps around your tongue and palate with focus and freshness.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
Fresh, bright, ripe black cherry, raspberry and light floral scents lead off in this supple, fleshy, full-bodied red, which is complex and layered on the palate, maintaining its core fruitiness and gaining subtle touches of dark berry and spice. Drink now through 2018.
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James Suckling
A fruity and juicy red with dried strawberry and lemon rind character that follows through to a medium body, with fine tannins. Fresh finish. Drink now.
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.