Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2017 Pinot Noir Chenoweth Ranch comes from a site in the Russian River yet has a more Sonoma Coast-like vibrancy and purity, with lots of mulled red and black fruits, pine and foresty nuances, and just a hint of classic Russian River cola and spice. Medium-bodied, nicely textured and elegant on the palate, it has good acidity, fine tannins, and is going to evolve nicely for a decade.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2017 Pinot Noir Chenoweth Ranch was made with 100% whole cluster and aged in 50% new oak. Pale to medium ruby-purple, it offers aromas of toast, roasted cranberries, blueberries, lilacs and red cherries with accents of amaro and a classy framing of oak spice. The palate is light to medium-bodied, silky and layered with a grainy texture and juicy freshness on the long finish. 1,163 cases produced.
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.