Winemaker Notes
The 2024 Michael Pozzan Russian River Valley Pinot Noir is lively and expressive on the nose, with aromas of red plum, orange peel, strawberries, and a hint of clove. In the mouth, the wine shows juicy flavors of ripe strawberries, red plum, and mission fig, with creamy, smooth tannins that are mouth-filling and supple. A lingering perfume of French vanilla lingers throughout the finish.
Enjoy this wine with wild mushroom ravioli served with an arugula salad with radishes and a fine balsamic vinaigrette.
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.