Winemaker Notes
Violet in hue, the 2021 vintage entices with pomegranate, dark cherry, and black tea. The voluptuous texture fuses with layered notes of boysenberry, bergamot, and hints of sage. As it moves across the palate both acid and fine-grained tannins are flawlessly integrated, accentuated by a red clay minerality. This is a refined and graceful wine with lively acidity, leading to a long finish.
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
The 2021 Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley) is dense, heady and explosive. All the classic Russian River exuberance comes through, but amplified in all of the good ways and none of the bad. Even with all of the richness and intensity, the 2021 retains good freshness as well as energy. A touch of whole clusters brightens the finish nicely.
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Wine Enthusiast
This is a classic Russian River Pinot, boasting ripe black cherries and black plums, rather soft acidity, and a warm, soothing texture of fine-grained tannins. While easy to enjoy now, it has the balance and concentration for further aging.
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James Suckling
Plenty of dried strawberry with black cherry and hints of chocolate. Full and very fresh with orange-peel and floral undertones. Vivid fruit. Tangy. About 15% whole cluster. Drink or hold.
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Wine Spectator
Bright and punchy, with a host of delicious mulberry and pomegranate notes, carried by crunchy acidity and backed by light anise and potpourri accents on the finish. Shows nice racy energy underneath.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2021 Pinot Noir is composed of 94% estate fruit. It was crafted with about 15% whole clusters and matured in 33% new oak. It has broody scents of blueberry, cranberry, rhubarb, cured meats, lavender and allspice. The medium-bodied palate has generous, juicy fruit, a soft, grainy frame and a long finish. This is very easy to drink!
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.