Winemaker Notes
Pure and vibrant, the ruby red 2022 Katherine Lindsay Estate Pinot Noir leads with a nose full of contrasts—fragrant violets, pleasantly bitter dried orange peel, and raspberry tea in an almost confection-like blend are answered by earthier red clay, hints of sage and thyme, and spring forest floor notes. Marked energy keeps the well-structured palate vibrant, with vanilla-kissed red fruit—mountain raspberry, pomegranate, cherry—fresh and seductive at the same time. Fine-grained, almost talc-like tannins edge the long, persistent finish with palpable energy.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Pouring a medium ruby hue, the 2022 Pinot Noir Katherine Lindsay Estate comes from the Russian River Valley and is mostly produced from the Calera clone of Pinot Noir, along with Swan. Spicy and savory on the nose, it opens to vibrant notes of rose hip rose petals, brambly wild herbs, cranberries, and orange rind. Medium-bodied, it offers compact tension, with fine tannins and elegant, lasting notes of cinnamon on the finish. It’s deserving of another year or two in a cool cellar and drinking over the coming 15 years.
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James Suckling
The freshness and richness at the same time are really impressive, with dried strawberries, orange peel and some fresh herbs like basil. It’s full and bright with orange peel, citrus and some iron and pepper undertones and a long and flavorful finish. Needs two or three years to come together. Drink after 2027.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2022 Pinot Noir Katherine Lindsay Estate has layered aromas of raspberry, strawberry, orange oil, peppercorn and forest floor. The medium-bodied palate is vibrant and finely astringent. It offers layers of spicy berry fruit and has a long, fragrant finish.
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Wine Spectator
An extroverted red, with a burst of cherry and boysenberry fruit that shows good energy but is a little shy on density, while rose hip and bramble accents gild the finish. Drink now through 2027. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 870 cases made.
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.