Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The outstanding 2007 Pinot Noir Lolita Ranch (made from Dijon Clones 667 and 777) reveals notes of forest floor, blueberries, black cherries, and crushed rocks. It is full-bodied with deep, broad savory flavors, ripe tannin, outstanding length and purity, and a lush finish.
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Wine Spectator
Rich, intense and complex, this full-bodied red shows ripe blackberry and wild berry fruit that touches on cola and borders on syrupy, but remains balanced, ending with spice and hazelnut notes and a hint of ginger and cola.
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.