92pts Jeb Dunnuck

Moving to the two 2015s releases, the 2015 Pinot Noir Trenton Estate Vineyard is one of the darker hued releases in the lineup and it has a bright ruby/purple hue with almost no amber at the rim. Seeing around 30% stems and 15 months in 60% new French oak, it has a wonderful bouquet of black raspberries, dark cherries, tobacco, Califonia bay, and chocolatey spice. This carries to a medium to full-bodied Pinot Noir with a silky, seamless texture, polished tannins, nicely integrated acidity, and a great finish. I love the complexity here as well as the vibrancy in the fruit, and I think this is a small step up over the 2013.

Winemaker's Notes

Sometimes a year comes along that just does not fit the mold. A committed terroirist prizes a sense of place and often feels a wine is not “proper” if it does not exhibit that. But once in a while, a wine can be so utterly delicious that this short coming is overlooked. Many of the 2015 Russian River Valley Pinot Noirs are in this category. Rich, full, and delicious now, but not really representative of the Russian River Valley to me. My belief is that the sense of place will show in time, but right now, it is overshadowed by the sheer voluptuousness of the vintage.

Gorgeous aromas of red berries and cherries with a slight hind of mint. In the mouth, it is
amazingly lush, with just enough acid to brighten it. Silky and full, the finish is long and
smooth. I predict a bright future for this wine, but it hard to resist!

Vineyard Notes

This small 4-acre vineyard contains all Dijon clones of Pinot Noir.