Winemaker Notes
Brilliant crimson in color, Raeburn Pinot Noir leads with pleasing aromas of baking spice and vanilla. The palate is marked with stunning fruit flavors of lush wild blueberry, raspberry, and blackberry with undertones of roasted hazelnut. The finish is graceful and sophisticated.
Professional Ratings
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Tasting Panel
Following savory aromas of balsamic, mushroom, and sweet earth, a buoyant mouthfeel sets afloat flavors of cherrywood, tobacco, dried lavender, and blueberry plus a dash of white pepper. Baking spices add flair to the elegant finish.
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Wine Enthusiast
This pure-tasting, appetizing and tangy-textured wine cuts generous red and black cherry flavors with vivid acidity and tingly tannins. The structure is lip-smacking now and will promote further aging through 2027.
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.