Winemaker Notes
This superb wine is the result of seven different Pinot lots blended together. Red ruby in color, this blend offers a pretty nose of cranberry, rhubarb, and cherry with hints of barrel toast and earth (that's from the Leras Family Vineyards). The inviting qualities found on the nose are mirrored on the palate. There's an elegant fusion of tart red fruit - cherry, pomegranate and rhubarb - with hints of earthy minerality, fine-grained tannins and gentle oak notes. Bright with frisky acidity, it begs for food. A nice piece of fatty salmon, duck or pork tenderloin with fall vegetables sounds mouthwatering and delicious.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
This offers an array of red and blue-fruit aromas, leading to a palate that has a very succulent and creamy feel. Oak spice marries nicely with ripe red cherries.
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.