Winemaker Notes
The darker spectrum of red fruits in this Lewis MacGregor Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir dominates the compact and dense nose. Multifaceted and complex notes of anise, cranberry, and tangerine emerge with aeration. English breakfast tea and hints of leather complete the aromatic picture. Mouth-filling and round, the palate speaks volumes; red fruits with wood spices, tea, and dried herbs abound. A citrus-like acidity ties everything together and transitions to a mineral-driven finish.
Professional Ratings
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Medium ruby-purple, the 2019 Pinot Noir Lewis MacGregor Estate Vineyard has pure, layered scents of raspberry preserves, licorice, laurel leaves, pipe tobacco and pepper, with tinges of mushroom and bergamot coming through as it airs in the glass. The medium-bodied palate is powerful and intense, with a grainy, fresh frame and latent finish that suggests this will have more to give after another 2-3 years in bottle.
-
Wine Enthusiast
Notes of strawberry, cherry and citrus highlight a medium-bodied experience of stony minerality and savory forest floor. Dense and concentrated, it shows lasting acidity that adroitly lifts the fruit and woody oak.
-
James Suckling
A floral nose of roses and violets, accented by notes of baking spice and red cherries. Full-bodied with sandy, easy-going tannins, wrapped by ripe raspberry, black-cherry and clove flavors. Lovely hints of nutmeg and allspice. Fresh acidity.
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.