Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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The Somm Journal
A multifaceted personality emerges from this complex red: We’re entertained first with clove, briar, wild cherry, and cocoa on the nose, and then with a juicy, delicate, and lean body that’s reminiscent more of rose petals and red flowers than forest floor. As the performance concludes, savory notes whisper backstage.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2019 Raeburn Rosé is delightful and pleasant. TASTING NOTES: This wine exhibits ripe fruit and savory spices. Enjoy it with fresh salmon sashimi. (Tasted: March 16, 2020, San Francisco, CA)
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.