Winemaker Notes
This site epitomizes classic Russian River Valley aromatics with bright red fruit character. Along with red fruits, the wine is highlighted with dried rose petals, cinnamon, and dried citrus peel. The palate has a wonderful tangerine streak with a burst of cranberry and cherry flavors. Medium grained tannins give a sensation of black tea and the wine concludes with a subtle gravelly, mineral-driven finish.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A big bouquet of roses, cinnamon and violets in this welcoming, generous and charming wine that has appealing complexity. So spicy, floral, concentrated and alive in red fruit and red tea, backed by good, appetizing acidity and moderate tannins.
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.