Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Tasting Panel
Electrifying notes of spiced plum settle on the palate with grace and confidence. A shadow of charcoal and slate is illuminated by a beam of boysenberry and brown-sugared beet. Pure luxury from the Green Valley neighborhood.
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James Suckling
This is a barrel selection of all the pinot vineyards of the Estate, showing plenty of fruit, yet it’s framed and juicy with lovely aromatics and hints of vanilla. Lightly chewy and layered.
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Wine Enthusiast
Bold fruit flavors and generous oak spices beautifully fill out this full-bodied and smooth-textured wine that exudes dark plums, raspberries and woodsy earth tones on a texture of soft tannins and gentle acidity.
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Wine Spectator
Ripe and plush, though maturing already, this softens in energy as the core of mulled black cherry and raspberry fruit glides along, picking up singed tea, sous-bois and incense accents along the way. Gentle sandalwood-tinged finish.
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.