Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Earthy in baked citrus, black tea and clove, this wine offers a supple midpalate and plenty of length. Moderate acidity and balanced ripeness transition to a savory crushed-mineral tone. It's rich within reason, more elegant than robust.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Pale ruby-purple colored, the 2016 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley gives lovely black cherries, mulberries and warm plums with nuances of Chinese five spice and dried flowers plus a touch of dusty soil. Medium-bodied with plush, approachable tannins and just enough freshness lifting the expressive black fruit, it finishes on an earthy note. 2,405 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.