Winemaker Notes
This crowd-pleaser is the product of hand-selected vineyards on the eastern bank of the Russian River. On the nose, a gamut of black fruits and plum mix with aromas of cedar shavings and dried herbs, while notes of elderberry and elderflower add additional intrigue. All sorts of berry flavors excite the palate and are lifted with citrus and impressions of black tea. The tannins are voluminous, refined and finish with a gravelly texture.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2016 Pinot Noir Eastside Road Neighbors has a pale to medium ruby-purple color and scents of stewed black tea leaves, tree bark, warm black cherries, mixed berry preserves, nutmeg, cinnamon stick and notes of citrus peel with red fruit sparks at the core—this is wonderfully spicy and smells like the holidays! Light to medium-bodied, it offers great intensity of flavor layers in the mouth with finely dispersed, grainy tannins and fantastic juicy acidity, finishing very long and layered. 1,226 cases produced.
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.