Russian River Valley Pinot Noir Reviews

Firm tannins and a healthy stamp of toasted oak give this full-bodied wine an almost chewy texture. Cedar, wood smoke and cranberry flavors are complex and deep.

(£26.99) 14% alcohol. Juicy with sweet cherries and plums, showing nice balance with sweet fruit and a fine-grained finish. 89/100

Full and finely chewy with notes of strawberry, red plum, thyme, lavender, cedar and mushroom. 

Excellent, Highly Recommended

A sophisticated nose of stewed cherries, sandalwood, and vanilla rises from the glass. The palate brings spice flavors of cinnamon and caraway alongside fruity strawberry rhubarb pie and raspberry tart. Soft tannins provide a velvety finish.

Gold, 96 pts 

92 points

Excellent, Highly Recommended 
A hint of pepperiness comes through the otherwise floral and fruity aromas, adding a nice depth to the nose. In the mouth it is soft and juicy with plenty of berry fruits leading the flavors, flanked by hints of dried herbs and minerals.

Universally appreciated for its savoury complexity as well as its sweet red fruit-laden palate. Jonathan Kleeman of Social Eating House said: 'Elegant style, showing good fresh fruit on the nose with a touch of sweet spice, soft tannins and some confected notes, but acidity that shows it can age well.' 'A lot of ripe cherry fruit, rounded with a smoky, spicy finish,' added Piotr Tomaszewski of JKS Restaurants.

The winery is making a strong turnaround since becoming part of Jean-Charles Boisset’s stable, and veteran winemaker Brian Maloney has access to choice vineyards.

GOLD

SILVER

Pure and direct, with a core of cherry, plum and wild berry that gains depth and nuance before tightening up on the finish, where the tannins reign. -JL

Best Buy

For his 2013 appellation wine, winemaker Brian Maloney selected fruit from four vineyards throughout the Russian River Valley, including Heintz at the cool western edge of Green Valley and Becnel in the warmer hills along Westside Road. His gentle treatment of the fruit and use of mostly older barrels allows quiet, savory aromas of forest mushrooms and sandalwood to lead the way. The flavors slowly build toward a pure, rosy, red-fruited glow that's mouthwatering and gentle, yet utterly persuasive. The wine also happens to be a steal - and it would be delicious with sauteed mushrooms. 

SILVER

SILVER

SILVER

Raspberry syrup and rose hips mark the entry of this wine, an relatively affordable offering from the appellation. Softly layered in red and black cherry as well as more brambly blackberry, it takes on additional complexity in its specks of baking spice, mostly cardamom, before a finish robust in tannin says adieu. —V.B. 

This is really quite pretty with its pure and fresh essence of red pinot fruit nose. There is good vibrancy to the lush and very supple flavors that possess both fine volume and texture that continue onto the acceptably complex and persistent finish that displays a very mild hint of warmth. This is attractive for the price, particularly as a choice to consume young.

An excellent choice for a regular, go-to Pinot, this is intense, with spicy floral scents and loamy earth, watermelon and dried berry notes that firm on the finish. Drink now through 2021.

An excellent choice for a regular, go-to Pinot, this is intense, with spicy floral scents and loamy earth, watermelon and dried berry notes that firm on the finish. Drink now through 2021. 5,000 cases made. —J.L.

Classic ruby. A ripe and restrained nose of red berries and subtle spice notes leads to energetic and well-detailed middle weight flavors that culminate in a dusty, clean and ever-so-mildly austere finish. There is a trace of warmth to the acceptably complex and agreeably persistent finale that is slightly attenuated.

Fresh and snappy, displaying moderate weight and deptgh, with zesty strawberry and watermelon flavors, followed by a light finish.

PINOT NOIR FINALIST. Excellent. Highly recommended.

A fresh and very pretty, indeed perfumed nose of ripe red pinot fruit give way to round, supple and easy to like flavors that culminate in a somber but complex and reasonably persistent finish. This forward effort is already drinking well.

At first this is a tumble of forest scents, from mushrooms to conifer and eucalyptus. Then is shades toward eggplant purple in its fruit, with wood spice lasting. As it settles down in the glass, the fruit becomes bosky and dusky while holding that spice. Decant if for braised rabbit. *Best Buy

With a thick coating of caramelized oak and masses of ripe, jammy fruit, this Pinot tastes sweet. But it's complex in its own way, with a pleasant scour of acidity. Drink now with mushroom risotto, lamb chops or, for the best of all worlds, both. -S.H.