Winemaker's Notes
A wine for now and for later: When I transferred this from the barrels to the bottling tank a little over a year ago, I was very excited to see that the wine retained so much of its forward, youthful fruitiness from the underlying fruit material rather than those short-lived esters from fermentation. It’s the more stable grape-derived material that stays with the wine during its journey through middle-age and beyond, somewhere between eight and sixteen years of age.
On the other hand, there is tremendous depth to the wine’s more latent aspects which are also grape-derived (mostly thru extraction of solid grape material): There seems to be a kernel to this wine that is reminiscent of how flavors come out of a lemon drop candy. It’s like you feel the hard candy in the center of your mouth, but the location where the flavors show themselves are in the dissolved, non-solid part like a halo. It’s that kernel that replenishes the flavor pool. This wine seems kind of like that (however with different flavors than a lemon-drop). I’m excited about this wine in that it has the potential to make friends early on as well as to develop into something more interesting and complex in a graceful fashion for years to come. Its message should echo for many years and as it does, it should change from the crystal-clarity of the initial message, gaining interest as it diffuses and resonates over time realizing a kind of self-harmony.
Judi Scherrer –
Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar – May 2013
Bright ruby-red. Smoky cherry and red berry aromas, with hints of licorice and spicecake in the background. Spicy and focused on entry, then deeper n the mid-palate, offering potent raspberry and bitter cherry flavors and a hint of succulent herbs. The smoky note comes back on the finish, which is taut, brisk and very persistent. 92 points. Josh Raynolds
Judi Scherrer –
Vinous – February 2014
The 2010 Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley) captures the essence of the Russian River in its plump, juicy personality and generous fruit. Ripe red cherry, pomegranate, cloves and new leather meld together in the glass. The 2010 is round, soft and caressing from start to finish. 91 points. Antonio Galloni
Judi Scherrer –
California Grapevine – May 2014
Mediumlight to medium ruby; attractive, forward, spicy, bright, raspberry and black cherry fruit aroma with light smoky notes and hints of rose petal, clove, cinnamon, and buttered toast; medium to medium-full body; forward, plummy, spicy, black cherry flavors that are nicely balanced and have good depth and richness; medium to medium-full tannin; lingering aftertaste. Shows some elegance and complexity, and should continue to age gracefully for several more years, though hard to resist the temptation of enjoying it now. Very highly recommended. My score 91. Nick Ponomareff