After the drought year of 2015, 2016 brought some welcome relief in the form of rain to the valley. The soils and the vines got a bit of a new life after several years of drought. I must say that although drought is not a good thing, the 2015 RRV Pinot was and is still a great wine and one of my all-time favorites.

The 2016 seems to be a bit lighter, polished, but still deeply flavored. Some describe the vintage as almost perfect, but I’ll leave that for you to decide. The vintage is what mother nature makes it. I just try to convey that expression to you without screwing it up as it were.

Medium ruby extraction and medium bodied. Nuanced raspberry and herbal aromatics with a touch of warm baking spices. A lovely bright palate entry, a mouthful of cherries, cola, green tea and a juiciness that goes on and on. Light tannins. A sexy wine with plenty of charm, cherries wrapped with velvet in a strapless dress. Just hitting its stride, will drink great for another five years. Would pair nicely with gently spiced Asian foods, duck, spare ribs, etc. Enjoy this focused expression of Russian River Valley Pinot Noir. Our flagship that is true to form for years now, doesn’t get much better than this IMHO.

Blend: Ritchie Vineyard Martini Clone 6%
Buena Tierra Clone 667 18.2%
Gravel Block V Swan Clone 33.3%
Russian River South Vineyard Pommard 42.4%

Harvest Dates: Ritchie Vineyard September 1st, Gravel Block August 30th, Buena Tierra BT667 September 3rd, River South September 7th.
PH 3.62
TA .661g/100ml
Alcohol: 14.4%
Unfined and Unfiltered
Bottled: May 15, 2018

350 cases produced.