Winemaker Notes
The core of this wine is from the Meadows Vineyard in which 100% comes from the Rochioli Selection. They add in a little Swan clone from their West 12 rows and a barrel here and there. This is truly representative of all of their Vineyard sites.
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
The 2021 Pinot Noir The Estate Vineyards is gracious, elegant and silky. Crushed red/purplish berry fruit, spice and mint are nicely laced together in a juicy, mid-weight Pinot that delivers the goods. The 2021 offers tons of immediacy, but marries that with a good bit of energy. This is a very serious wine with a bright, bright future.
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Jeb Dunnuck
The spicy and ripe 2021 Pinot Noir The Estate Vineyards displays a dark ruby/red hue and is forward with aromas of sandalwood, stewed cherry, and cracked pepper. This full-bodied Pinot is toasty on the palate, with fleshy fruit and angular acidity. A generous entry to the range, it will benefit from another 6 months to a year in bottle.
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.