Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Connoisseurs' Guide
Here is a sophisticated, complex look at Pinot Noir with notes of dried flowers, lush cherries and scents of sweet smoke all elevated by an elusive perfumed note sitting in the background. Supple, polished and already showing the first signs of Pinot velvety textural potential, this wine holds long on the palate, is impeccably balanced and despite its well-expressed flavors, is light on its feet. It will seduce you with its early charms but do let it age into even better.
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.