Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Gorgeous fruit aromas and flavors fill out this plush-textured and softly balanced wine. It offers ripe black cherry and raspberry tones and a full body, but has a delightful, light touch on the palate. The finish lingers nicely, too.
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Wine Spectator
Presents a precise laser beam of cherry and wild berry fruit that's zesty and lively, with snappy acidity and tannins on a lingering aftertaste. Drink now through 2020.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
Deep and concentrated, the 2013 Stemmler Pinot Noir sourced fruit for this wine from some of Anderson Valley's finest parcels. The wine begins with a normal garnet color before power-diving onto the palate with bold, black fruits and sweet oak. This richer style Pinot Noir should be a great match with blackened salmon or grilled rib-eye of beef. Drinking quite well now. (Tasted: August 8, 2016, San Francisco, CA)
Anderson Valley, located in Mendocino County just above Sonoma County, is one of California’s coolest AVAs, allowing it a long growing season. Only 15 miles long, the region makes a slice eastward through the mountains, from the frigid Pacific Ocean. Dramatic diurnal temperature variations here preserve grape acidity and thus freshness in the finished wines. These are prime conditions for growing Pinot Noir, and the valley produces many fine versions. Characteristics of Anderson Valley Pinot Noir typically include crisp acidity, cranberry and strawberry notes as well as earthy notes of forest floor and mushroom.
Still Pinot Noir, however, is only part of the story. Pinot Noir, along with Chardonnay, are also grown for Anderson Valley’s exceptional sparkling wines. Produced via the traditional method, these offer a classic toasty note from lees aging, bright, complex fruit notes and a clean, refreshing character.