Winemaker Notes
The 2018 Lynmar Winery Russian River Pinot Noir pours a saturated ruby color in the glass. This vintage showcases aromatics of ripe strawberry, Santa Rosa plum, fresh rhubarb and black tea. On the palate, flavors of bing cherry, hibiscus and orange blossom are followed by undertones of baking spice and clove. A textured finish echoes notes of strawberry, black tea and spice.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Juicy and brooding in spicy cinnamon, clove and depths of red cherry and raspberry, this is a well-made, well-rounded appellation wine that displays the diversity and complexity of the place. Expert winemaking turns it into a cohesive whole of richness and length.
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.