Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2013 Pinot Noir Wohler Vineyard reveals beautiful, sweet, Volnay-like strawberry and wild berry fruit, a lush, hedonistic texture, medium to full body and good purity. It was made from clones 115, 828 and the Wadenswil clone planted in deep Goldridge soils as it is the only Russian River selection in the Sojourn portfolio. With excellent depth and medium to full body, this big-time winner should drink well for 6-9 years.
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Wine Enthusiast
An elegantly floral nose is at the forefront of this wine, made from a Forestville site replanted in 2009. Concentrated in dark cherry and vanilla, it’s robust and generous in oak and tannin, finding its balance on the finish. Time in the decanter or cellar should open things up as well, through 2020. Cellar Selection.
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.