Winemaker Notes
The Eastside Road vineyards from which this wine is crafted harmonize to make a wonderfully balanced wine. You can pick out the rose petals from Calegari, the earth and berry flavors from Foss, and the precision of red fruits from MacGregor. In the mouth, the balance is impeccable with juicy acidity that is wrapped around a fleshy, rich core. The finish is delightfully refreshing with a lift of citrus and black tea.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
This commingling of sites from across Eastside Road is seamless and seductive, with a robust notion of rich fruit complemented by fresh acidity. Dark berry dominates around a complex layering of forest floor, black licorice and baking spice, the oak and tannin integrated and in full support.
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2019 Pinot Noir Eastside Road Neighbors lifts from the glass with ripe red plum, nutmeg, and cinnamon spice. The palate is fleshy and soft, with rich turned earth, black cherry fruit, crushed roses, and warming spice.
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James Suckling
Inviting aromas of ripe red cherries, plums and sage. Full-bodied, lean and linear. Soft, silky tannins. Dark-fruited on the palate, but lifted by bright acidity and rock-salt salinity. Spice and dried herbs add pleasant layers of complexity.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Medium ruby-purple, the 2019 Pinot Noir Eastside Road Neighbors explodes with particularly pure aromas of blueberries, pomegranate, cinnamon and bergamot, with accents of mushrooms, tree bark and aniseed. The medium-bodied palate has a grainy frame, and bursts of fresh acidity highlight its spicy fruits, finishing with great length.
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.