Winemaker Notes
The 2017 version of this wine shows tremendous fruit intensity. The black cherry, red plum and toasted spice aromatics hint at the fruit and spice killer combo in this wine. The silky textures open up notes strawberry preserves and cranberry on the palate. This is a wine that has a clear presence and is a testament to the strengths of the Russian River Valley appellation.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
This has attractive structure and depth with very fresh and focused red and black cherries, framed in finely detailed, long and fresh style. Impressive purity and concentration here. Drink or hold.
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.