Winemaker's Notes
This is our first release of the 2009 Pinot Noirs as it seems to find its feet ahead of denser, later bottled wines we make. This is a truly delicious vintage, and this wine has a little bit of savory character which anchors it to food especially after being open for a day or two. I consider this kind of a hybrid between the textural, lithe 2006 Sonoma County bottling and the intensively structured and fruited 2007. It’s full-flavored and medium weight so it won’t step on any toes. While our strength as a winery is in ‘difficult’ vintages, we seem to also do well in ‘easy’ ones too. Imagine that.
Judi Scherrer –
Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar – May 2012
Deep ruby. Highly perfumed bouquet evokes red and dark berries, cherry skin, rose and Asian spices. Black raspberry and cherry flavors are impressively focused and pure, picking up spiciness and florality on the back end. A precise, elegant, seamless pinot that’s balanced to age but drinks very well right now. 91 points. Josh Raynolds
Judi Scherrer –
The Wine Advocate – April 2013
The 2009 Pinot Noir Sonoma county is quite pretty. Sweet red cherries, freshly cut flowers, spices, cedar and dried herbs all come together in this supple inviting wine. The 2009 has the stuffing to support the long aging in barrel that Scherrer prefers. All the elements are in the right place. There is a lot to like here. 89 points. Antonio Galloni
Judi Scherrer –
Burghound – October 2013
This is slightly cooler and a bit more elegant than the Russian River Valley [bottling] with its attractively layered nose of black cherries, cassis and soft floral aromas. There is good delineation to the tension-filled and intense middle weigth flavors that terminate in a robust, powerful, mouth coasting and dusty finish where about the only nit is a touch of warmth. this is really quite good and offers solid quality for the price. 89 points / 2016+ Allen Meadows