Winemaker Notes
With its tremendous depth of flavors and texture, the 2019 Pellegrini Russian River Valley Pinot Noir provides a wonderful showcase of the benefits of blending fruit from neighboring Pinot Noir vineyards. Popping out of the glass into the nose are plum, brambles, lavender, and crème caramel. Its chewy texture provides structure for notes of bing cherry, pomegranate, mocha, and pistachio, harmonized by hints of leather and pine.
Try with steak au poivre, cassoulet, or beef tagine.
Professional Ratings
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Tasting Panel
Maritime fog sweeps up through the Petaluma Gap to cool this region, the closest of the neighborhoods to Santa Rosa. Jasmine tea makes a stunning entrance with allspice and cherry pie filling. Elegant and inspired notes of cola and wet stone expand to a juicy wash of white-peppered cherry and cedar on the finish.
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Wine Enthusiast
Packed with cherries, raspberries and a little rhubarb, this vivid and well-balanced wine is medium bodied, dry and appetizing. The wine shows a freshness and frankness that will be very versatile in pairings.
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.