Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A brilliant, focused and concentrated red that offers a great blend of tart and ripe fruit with ample dark spice accents and moderate tannins. So well balanced, concentrated and harmonious, with violet, lilac, black cherry, blueberry, savory and pine aromas and touches of mushrooms and forest floor. Full-bodied.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2023 Pinot Noir Katherine Lindsay Estate comes from grapes planted in 2000, and the wine was fermented with around 10% whole clusters. It has dramatically unfurling scents of Morello cherry, cranberry and blackberry that give way to nuances of tea leaves, conifer, mushrooms and floral perfume. The palate is bursting with layers of earthy, spicy fruit, and its new oak spice is seamlessly integrated. It’s framed by fine, dusty tannins and mouthwatering acidity, and it has a long, layered finish.
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Jeb Dunnuck
A bright red color, the 2023 Pinot Noir Katherine Lindsay Estate takes us back to the Russian River Valley and brings forward floral, pastoral charm. It boasts classic and pure notes of mossy fresh earth, red cherries, and fresh spice with wonderful clarity. The palate has a medium-bodied frame with well-defined ripe tannins, even acidity, and a graceful finish. Drink 2025-2040.
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Wine Spectator
This is ripe and well-structured, with a serious core of vivid mulberry and boysenberry preserves held in check for now by singed apple wood, wood spice and hibiscus notes. Shows ample energy and drive through the finish. Needs some cellaring to unwind fully, but everything is there.
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.