Winemaker Notes
Enchanting aromatics delight with pronounced blackberry and layers of ripe red cherry and raspberry. The palate is silky smooth with delicate tension and a remarkable finish.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Taking on more richness both visually and aromatically, the 2021 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley is generous with violets, black cherry, and cola spices. Medium to full-bodied, it has ripe, sweet tannins, with notes of black tea, expansive black raspberry fruit, and toasted cedar. It offers good richness and has a classic feel with a long finish. Drink 2024-2034.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2021 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley was matured for 15 months in 34% new oak. It has a medium ruby color and generous aromatic layers of lavender, licorice, eucalyptus and forest floor with a core of dark fruit. The medium-bodied palate is powerful, its concentrated fruit complemented by well-integrated oak spice. It has abundant, grainy tannins, bursts of mouthwatering acidity and a very long, layered finish. Offer it another 2-3 years in bottle to unwind.
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.