Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Sumptuous aromas of sweet and sour cherries, damp earth, fresh porcini mushrooms, black fruits, spice, and forest floor emerge from the 2007 Pinot Noir McDougall Ranch. Medium to full-bodied, rich, concentrated, and beautifully textured with fresh acids and ripe tannins.
-
Wine Spectator
Supple and elegant, with ripe plum, black cherry and wild raspberry fruit that's fresh and zesty. Medium- to full-bodied, ending with firm 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.