Winemaker Notes
2019 may stand out as one of the more exceptional vintages in recent memory. Cooler temperatures and stable weather for most of the growing season allowed for slow maturation of flavors without any heat events spiking sugar accumulation in the berries. Although 2019 also saw the devastating Kincade fire in Sonoma County, Pinot noir and most Chardonnays in the county were harvested by then, so the smoke did not affect the grapes. Overall, look for wines with slightly lower alcohol, higher but integrated acids, and a depth of flavor that you would probably have to go back several vintages to find an equal.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Seamless, earthy and stemmy, this is a wine of moderate heft and length, a divine showing for the appellation and all its diverse nuances. Bright, crunchy red fruit, citrus, baking spice and oak are complementary and integrated, the tannins smooth and velvety soft.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Lots of ripe Bing cherries, mulberries, baking spices, and cola notes emerge from the 2019 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley. Medium to full-bodied, it delivers loads of spice and incense on the palate, ripe tannins, and a good spine of acidity. It's already complex and drinking nicely yet should easily keep for 7-8 years.
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.