Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The delicious 2008 Pinot Noir Estate (just under 4,000 cases produced) is one of the finest generic Pinots one can find from Russian River. It exhibits sweet pomegranate, raspberry, cherry, roasted herb notes along with a hint of smoky oak in its seductive, round, opulent personality. It should drink well for 7-8 years. Range: 90-92
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Wine & Spirits
From the Rochioli family's famed estate vineyard at a bend in the Russian River, this is stemmy and youthfully tight. It's a study in contrast: the color is transparent, the aroma black, as if you can smell the substantial extract in the wine. The texture is supple and juicy, with a bright spike in the finish. No flavor detail has emerged yet, just a black and smoky impression that lasts. Roast eggplant stuffed with veal may bring out the wine's complexity.
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.