Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Aromas of strawberry and cherry. Salt undertones. Full body, integratd tannins and a fruit. Long and vivid finish. Drink now or hold.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Medium to deep ruby-purple in color, the 2015 Pinot Noir Little Hill Block has exuberant notes of crushed cherries, mulberries and red currants with hints of lavender, black pepper and menthol. Medium-bodied, the palate is highly structured with firm chewy tannins and very refreshing acidity, finishing long with an herbal note.
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Wine Spectator
A pure, rich red that's deceptively concentrated and tannic, this is slow to open, offering a restrained presence that lets the core of gravel-laced berry, anise and cedary oak flavors move to the forefront. Best from 2018 through 2026.
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.