Winemaker Notes
Pair with Peking duck a l'orange or lamb gyro with garlic tzatziki.
Professional Ratings
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
Bright and satisfying, the lively 2015 Twomey Russian River Valley Pinot Noir tantalizes the palate with fresh red and blue fruit flavors. The wine's touch of wood, in the finish, pairs it well with lightly grilled lamb chops. (Tasted: April 13, 2017, San Francisco, CA)
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Wine & Spirits
Focused on texture, the fine tannins creating an opulent nest for the sweet fruit, this pinot has enough bright acidity to clean up after its richness. Scents of roses and savory notes of pumpkin seeds lend the wine dimension. Pour it with filet mignon.
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.