Winemaker's Notes
Similar to the situation in 1999 that led to the immensely popular ‘Big Brother’ and ‘Little Sister’ RRV Pinot Noir bottlings, I was faced with certain 2002 fermentation lots that seemed to ‘fight’ when combined with other particular lots. After trying many different approaches, they ultimately sorted themselves out into two different blends that I am very happy with. It was tempting to repeat the 1999 nomenclature, but that wouldn’t be fair to any of the wines, because while there are some similarities to the previous pair, there are important differences too.
The first, larger 2002 blend is a great example of our style of RRV Pinot Noir with a nod (and maybe a wink) in the direction of ‘Little Sister.’ Beautiful red fruit character, precisely centered on the palate make this my current favorite of the two, and something I consider our typical RRV style. More complex than our 1999 ‘Little Sister,’ it is called simply ‘Russian River Valley.’
Judi Scherrer –
California Grapevine – September 2004
Medium-light to medium ruby; attractive, herbal, slightly stemmy and briary, strawberry and cherry fruit aroma showing some complexity and elegance; medium-full body; sharp, slightly plush, herbal, black cherry and blackberry fruit flavors; medium-full tannin’ lingering aftertaste. Shows distinctive varietal character and good aging potential. Highly recommended. My score 88. Nick Ponomareff
Judi Scherrer –
Wine & Spirits – February 2005
This pinot is balanced toward it top notes of tart cherry and cranberry. It’s soft and heady, with a meatiness to the flavor that will match roast pork with cranberry chutney. 87 points. Joshua Greene
Judi Scherrer –
Wine Enthusiast – November 2005
A bit soft in acidity, this is nonetheless a delicious, balanced Pinot Noir. It has the silkiness you want from the variety, with cherry, cola and cocoa flavors that mix well with the oak, and a long, fruity finish. 88 points. Steve Heimhoff