Winemaker's Notes
If we had and Estate Pinot Noir, this would be it. It is our largest production Pinot Noir and represents our best expression of this neighborhood of the Russian River Valley – mostly within Green Valley or adjacent to it. ALL of the fruit that went into this was pre-rain and harvested at our typical ripeness levels. It is a perfect illustration (as was our 2011 OMV Zinfandel) of unchallenged fruit in a vintage with a reputation for being challenging. Together, with the 2011 Sonoma County bottling, this makes a great illustration of two high points in a harvest season with two very different facets.
Perfectly ripe fruit that shows both the relative generosity of the region as well as the structure provided by great natural acidity and appropriate tannin, this is probably my favorite vintage for this bottling of our last four releases. Yes, really. Red and black fruits, hard-to-pin-down perfumes, slight herbal nuances, hints of freshly tilled loam all take turns on the aroma. There is enough juicy acidity here to make it work with a wide range of foods even some that favor white wine – although I prefer to have it with more traditional pairings at the moment. Having rested in bottle for the last year and a half, it is still quite young and benefits from being open for hours. The second half of a bottle left overnight absolutely sings. This wine can run the marathon.
Judi Scherrer –
Stephan Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar – June 2014
Vivid red. Musky aromas of dried cherry and redcurrant, with suggestions of loamy earth and fresh rose adding complexity. Taut and precise on the palate, offering subtly sweet red fruit and floral pastille flavors that pick up a spicy quality with air. Unfolds slowly on the tightly focused finish, leaving behind notes of star anise and sassafras. 89 points. Josh Raynolds
Judi Scherrer –
Vinous – February 2015
Scherrer’s 2011 Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley) is juicy and exuberant, yet retains its classic mid-weight sense of structure. Juicy dark cherries, plums, hard candy, wild flowers and spices open up in this highly expressive Pinot. The layered, polished finish is quite inviting. The Russian River Valley Pinot is made from a handful of sites, with Hallberg as the core source of fruit. 92 Points. Antonio Galloni
Judi Scherrer –
The Wine Advocate – October 2016
A real sleeper selection, given the variety and the vintage, is the 2011 Pinot Noir. I don’t know whether Scherrer intentionally held this back, but it is really strutting its stuff now, with notes of rose petals, wood spice, forest floor, sweet black cherries, raspberries and a hint of strawberry jam. Spicy, round, delicious, sexy and lush, it should be consumed over the next 5-6 years. 90 Points. Robert Parker