Description
93 James Suckling
Some dried fruit and dried flowers on the nose with hints of spices and strawberries. Full body and round, soft tannins. Yet, it shows brightness and vivid undertones, giving it vigor.
92 Wine Spectator
The mix of red berry, wild berry, licorice and gravelly earth flavors offers lots of substance, maintaining a tight focus and ending with a long, persistent finish.
92 Wine Advocate
The 2016 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley was aged partly for 15 months in 47% new French oak, partly for ten months in 5% concrete tank. It has a pale to medium ruby color and very inviting nose: pomegranate, cranberry jelly, violet, orange peel and red cherry candy are accented with nuances of dried leaves and a light framing of spices. It's medium-bodied, silky and offers great restraint—very intense but not over the top—with a soft, grainy frame and juicy acidity to lift the long, red berry finish. This isn't the most complex wine in the world, but it's exactly as it should be for an appellation-wide Pinot Noir—simply delicious!
91 Jeb Dunnuck
The largest production cuvée is the 2016 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley, which sees close to 50% new barrels. This juicy, fruit forward, medium-bodied effort offers classic notes of mulberries, raspberries, and hints of orange blossom. It’s another seamless, balanced 2016 that has the remarkable purity and elegance that’s the hallmark of the 2016 vintage.
Winemaker Notes
Ripe summer fruits on the nose: blueberries, raspberries and cranberries. Shaved nutmeg and burnt orange peel. Intense and bold on the palate with bright acidity and a soothing mouthfeel. Focused and daring, the longer it rests on the palate, the more it intensifies.
