Winemaker Notes
“Our 2021 vintage of “Wester Reach” Pinot Noir is a multi-layered interpretation of this classic region where we live and farm. It includes some of the greatest sites in the appellation—vineyards that we have planted, farmed, and harvested for over twenty years. Comprising three of our region’s unique sub-districts, the wine blends fruit from the valley itself with vineyards further west, stretching out to the coolest ‘reaches’ of the appellation’s high elevation coastal ridges. Each district contributes something unique, be it valley-floor texture and volume, ridgeline fruit intensity or bright coastal acidity.
The wine’s broad base is centered upon our coastal DuMOL Estate with dark fruit intensity, savory spice, and bright vibrancy. At higher elevation on a ridgetop overlooking the Green Valley, Upp Road offers soaring red and black fruit characters of beautiful purity. On the deeper clays of the Santa Rosa Plains, Occidental Road provides broad fruit extract and textural richness. Flax Estate overlooking the river in the Middle Reach weaves in volume, structure, and density from hillside volcanic soils.
Classic coastal Russian River aromas and flavors: crisp red apple skin, bright red cherry, deep wild berry, hibiscus, pepper, fresh mint, and a complex woodsy note. There’s wonderful purity and succulence to the core of red and black fruits which are supported by balanced black tea tannins and bright vibrant acidity. The wine finishes sleek and focused with liveliness and lingering aromatic lift. Drink between 2023 and 2029.”
95 points James Suckling – “A wine with a lot of back end, with dark fruits of blackberry and cherry. Ripe strawberry. Hints of toasted oak and smoke. It’s full and layered with very firm and polished tannins. Very serious and real and shows the structure of the vintage. Some chocolate. Strawberry pie, too.”
90 Points Wine Spectator – “Plump and juicy, with a forthright mix of raspberry and boysenberry compote flavors fueled by light hibiscus, licorice and rose petal details through the finish. Drink now through 2026. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 3,000 cases made.”
