Winemaker Notes
“The Prodigy” is a brilliant Pinot Noir sourced from Lyrik Vineyard, named after the vineyard owners two children, located within the Santa Rosa Plains neighborhood of the Russian River Valley. The vineyard sits low in elevation with lingering cool morning air, warm afternoons and coastal afternoon breezes before the evening fog rolls in. Its there Pommard and 667 clones are planted in a Huichica soil series that tends to have a higher clay content compared to the Goldridge soil series. This vineyard produces amazing concentrated aromas due to its unique location.
“The Prodigy” has a rich, evolved dark cherry and raspberry aroma expression combined with intense deep color and firm tannins that exemplify high-end ageable Pinot Noirs in the area.
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.