Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
-
Wine & Spirits
There's something in this wine that's rivetingly true to its place, a classical simplicity, as if smelling cherry blossoms in a coastal forest, or picking raspberries along Westside Road. It has the gentleness of great Russian River pinot, and a bright, happy flavor that lasts for minutes. From five neighboring vineyards, including Rochioli and Flax, with 90 percent of the fruit coming from Williams Selyem estate plantings at Drake and Litton. Winemaker Bob Cabral believes it's his best Russian River pinot noir in years.
-
Connoisseurs' Guide
A perennial favorite in these pages, this Pinot hails from the very heart of what many, including ourselves, view as one of the top two or three Pinot patches outside of the very best in Burgundy. It starts with exceptionally concentrated fruit redolent of sweet red cherries kissed with notes of vanilla, honey, toast and clove-like spices and continues with a delight-fully supple entry texture and a firming backbone of evident but not intrusive 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.