Pinot Noir
Russian River Valley, 2001

$ 80.00

While grown primarily in the sandy Goldridge soil, which tends to produce Pinot Noir with flavors of red fruits and orange peel, this wine also illustrates some of the deep, brooding black cherry character generally found in the region’s clay soils. It was bottled without fining or filtration, and should age gracefully for a handful of years.

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Winemaker's Notes

With the sudden change from warm & dry weather to cool & foggy patterns in September, most Pinot Noir grapes in this region accumulated sugar very slowly in 2001. This allowed us to pick based on flavor and tannin ripeness without being worried about excessive alcohol in the resulting wine. Because of the long period of moisture on the fruit, not surprisingly, potentially destructive molds began to attack some of the grapes. Therefore, strict sorting of fruit and judicious, yet decisive use of SO2 at the destemmer (as in Burgundy) were essential to making superior quality Russian River Valley Pinot Noir in 2001. I was delighted during its entire time in barrel. It is very much like the 2000 version of this bottling except better balanced with less alcohol and ultimately smoother texture. While it will drink well soon after release, this is still a serious wine that will reward some bottle age. The accelerating interest in our Pinot Noirs has rather caught us by surprise. Fortunately, we were able to procure a larger area from the same vineyards as well as a new one so we can offer everybody more this year, and maybe have a couple of cases to show off next year too.

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Reviews

  1. Judi Scherrer

    Restaurant WineIssue 97, 2003

    Scherrer is now producing terrific Pinot Noirs. The Russian River is exceptional: very supple and full bodied, this Pinot is also rich and long on the palate, with unusually aromatic character (black cherry, raspberry, toast, tobacco, clove, and rose petal). Long finish. 5 stars Ronn Weigand

  2. Judi Scherrer

    International Wine CellarFebruary 2004

    Dull medium red color. Raspberry, red cherry, cola, underbrush and spicy oak on the nose, along with a faint leafy quality. Juicy and nicely focused, with slightly dry-edged flavors of red berries, spices, smoked meat and gunflint. Began a bit narrow but showed more texture and sweetness of fruit with aeration. 87 points. Stephen Tanzer,

  3. Judi Scherrer

    DecanterOctober 2004

    Rust, raspberry, quite intense. Elegant, well-balanced firm structure. Quintessential Russian River Valley Russian River Valley. Pure now. Lovely mouth feel. Silver medal

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