94 Points: Jim Gordon Wine Enthusiast Advance Buying Guide - April 2024

“Robust in texture and well concentrated in flavor, this surprisingly light-bodied wine wraps rather firm tannins around black cherries, sour cherries, rhubarb and cloves. Thanks to the tangy restraint in the mouthfeel, it will pair beautifully with roast poultry, venison and the like. "

The 2021 vintage delivered a moderate and consistent growing season for most of Sonoma County, leading to a smooth, easily manageable harvest. While the continuation of drought conditions led to slightly reduced yields, the overall quality and concentration of the grapes were exceptional. The grapes from Klopp Ranch were harvested by hand in the cool evening hours of September 23rd, 2021.

The father-daughter team of Ted and Lauren Klopp have been farming in the Russian River Valley for over two decades. Their home ranch is on Laguna Road, where the vines are tucked away in the nook of a foggy valley. We selected grapes from three different blocks on their ranch planted to three different clones: 115, 777, and Swan. The ground here is fertile Goldridge soils, where the vines produce small, intensely flavorful clusters of grapes.

• composition:

  100% Pinot Noir

• alcohol: 12.6%
• cases made:

  367 Cases

• bottling date: 07/28/2022
• aging:

  Aged 10 months in French oak, 40% new, 40% one-year-old

• fermentation:

  Gently desteemed into open-top fermenters; three day cold soak; cap management included pump-overs & punch-downs

• composition:

  100% Pinot Noir

• alcohol: 13.8%

The 2022 vintage was impacted by a third consecutive year of drought that resulted in a reduction in yields from 10-30%. The growing season was temperate, keeping us on track or ahead of normal growth. Then we saw some heat spikes that prompted our first picks. We hand-harvested the grapes for this wine in the cool evening hours of September 12th, 2022.

Planted by the Pellegrini family in 1975, today, Olivet Lane is managed by the fourth generation of the family to be involved in winegrowing. The vineyard, which is named for the mature olive trees at the property entrance, is located in the Santa Rosa Plain neighborhood of the Russian River Valley, on an undulating benchland of well-drained, gravelly, clay loam soil. The foundation of this wine is the coveted Martini selection, a heritage clone that has played a key role in some of California’s greatest Pinot Noirs.

• composition:

  100% Pinot Noir

• alcohol: 13.8%
• cases made:

  171 Cases

• bottling date: 08/09/2023
• aging:

  Aged 10 months in French oak, 29% new, and 29% once-used

• fermentation:

  Gently desteemed into open-top fermenters; three day cold soak; cap management included pump-overs & punch-downs

95 Points: Michael Franz The Tasting Panel - July 2023

“This wine shows notably more depth and structure than this producer’s phenomenal 2021 from the Soberanes Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands, and those who value Pinots that are just a bit meatier will likely prefer it. Still, along the continuum of current California Pinots, this is still on the silky and subtle side of center, with much more expressiveness than weight. Red berry fruit is joined by a suggestion of black cherry, with lovely spice notes and a gentle tannic grip.”

94 Points: Decanter - September 2023

93 Points: Jim Gordon Wine Enthusiast - June/July 2023

“Black-fruit flavors crowd this well-saturated, well-built wine that wraps the fruit in rather firm tannins. Black cher¬ries, blackberries, and hints of mint give it great promise for drinking in the future. Best from 2026- 2032.”

93 Points: Rich Cook Wine Review Online - June 2023

“This wine shows the full throttle side of this winery’s Pinot Noir portfolio. It’s made in a big style that serves the ripe fruit well, playing deep black cherry fruit off layers of fall spice. It is fleshy, but maintains the signature long finish that marks the whole line. A light touch with the new oak (30%) was the perfect choice.”

91 Points: James Suckling JamesSuckling.com - November 2023

91 Points: Wine Spectator

The 2021 vintage delivered a moderate and consistent growing season for most of Sonoma County, leading to a smooth, easily manageable harvest. While the continuation of drought conditions led to slightly reduced yields, the overall quality and concentration of the grapes was exceptional. Nightwing is planted to many small blocks, each with unique topography and soil type, thus different clones. The majority of this wine is Clone 115 Pinot Noir from Block 23, with fruit from three other blocks planted to Pommard and clone 828 contributing complexity. We hand-harvest the grapes exactly when we wished in the cool evening hours of September 6 and 10 of 2021.

2021 marks the inaugural vintage of Pinot Noir from our new Nightwing Estate Vineyard, which is named after the indigenous nocturnal birds that keep a watchful eye on the land. Nighwing is also a nod to the original guardian of the property, Vernon Morelli, a former WWII pilot who built a landing strip amid the vineyard. Located in the acclaimed Petaluma Gap AVA, Nightwing Vineyard is perched at 1,200 feet above sea level, where it basks in cool ocean winds and long, sunny days.

• composition:

  100% Pinot Noir

• alcohol: 14.5%
• bottling date: 07/25/2022
• aging:

  Aged 10 months in French oak, 30% new, 14% once-filled

• fermentation:

  Gently desteemed into open-top fermenters; three day cold soak; cap management included pump-overs & punch-downs

95 Points: Michael Franz The Tasting Panel - July 2023

“This wine shows notably more depth and structure than this producer’s phenomenal 2021 from the Soberanes Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands, and those who value Pinots that are just a bit meatier will likely prefer it. Still, along the continuum of current California Pinots, this is still on the silky and subtle side of center, with much more expressiveness than weight. Red berry fruit is joined by a suggestion of black cherry, with lovely spice notes and a gentle tannic grip.”

94 Points: Decanter - September 2023

93 Points: Jim Gordon Wine Enthusiast - June/July 2023

“Black-fruit flavors crowd this well-saturated, well-built wine that wraps the fruit in rather firm tannins. Black cher¬ries, blackberries, and hints of mint give it great promise for drinking in the future. Best from 2026- 2032.”

93 Points: Rich Cook Wine Review Online - June 2023

“This wine shows the full throttle side of this winery’s Pinot Noir portfolio. It’s made in a big style that serves the ripe fruit well, playing deep black cherry fruit off layers of fall spice. It is fleshy, but maintains the signature long finish that marks the whole line. A light touch with the new oak (30%) was the perfect choice.”

91 Points: James Suckling JamesSuckling.com - November 2023

91 Points: Wine Spectator

The 2021 vintage delivered a moderate and consistent growing season for most of Sonoma County, leading to a smooth, easily manageable harvest. While the continuation of drought conditions led to slightly reduced yields, the overall quality and concentration of the grapes was exceptional. Nightwing is planted to many small blocks, each with unique topography and soil type, thus different clones. The majority of this wine is Clone 115 Pinot Noir from Block 23, with fruit from three other blocks planted to Pommard and clone 828 contributing complexity. We hand-harvest the grapes exactly when we wished in the cool evening hours of September 6 and 10 of 2021.

2021 marks the inaugural vintage of Pinot Noir from our new Nightwing Estate Vineyard, which is named after the indigenous nocturnal birds that keep a watchful eye on the land. Nighwing is also a nod to the original guardian of the property, Vernon Morelli, a former WWII pilot who built a landing strip amid the vineyard. Located in the acclaimed Petaluma Gap AVA, Nightwing Vineyard is perched at 1,200 feet above sea level, where it basks in cool ocean winds and long, sunny days.

• composition:

  100% Pinot Noir

• alcohol: 14.5%
• bottling date: 07/25/2022
• aging:

  Aged 10 months in French oak, 30% new, 14% once-filled

• fermentation:

  Gently desteemed into open-top fermenters; three day cold soak; cap management included pump-overs & punch-downs

95 Points: Jim Gordon Wine Enthusiast - November 2023

“Super well structured, with lip-smacking acidity and bright, ripe fruit flavors, this wine is a vibrant, palate-cleansing mouthful. Fragrant cinnamon and cloves are lifted by almost electric red cherries, sour cherries and cranberries that light up the palate. The wine is so nervy and fresh despite a full body.”

The 2021 vintage delivered a moderate and consistent growing season for most of Sonoma County, leading to a smooth, easily manageable harvest. While the continuation of drought conditions led to slightly reduced yields, the overall quality and concentration of the grapes was exceptional. We hand-harvested the grapes exactly when we wished in the cool evening hours of September 6, 7, and 10 of 2021.

2021 marks the inaugural vintage of Pinot Noir from our new Nightwing Estate Vineyard, which is named after the indigenous nocturnal birds that keep a watchful eye on the land. Nightwing is also a nod to the original guardian of the property, Vernon Morelli, a former WWII pilot who built a landing strip amid the vineyard. Located in the acclaimed Petaluma Gap AVA, Nightwing Vineyard is perched at 1,200 feet above sea level, where it basks in cool ocean winds and long, sunny days. First Flight is a unique selection from specific blocks and clones that were showing as distinct and special. 40% of this wine is Pommard clone from block 17, 60% is a mix of 667, 777, and Swan clones from blocks 10, 11, and 16.

• composition:

  100% Pinot Noir

• alcohol: 14.5%
• cases made:

  523 Cases

• bottling date: 08/10/2022
• aging:

  Aged 10 months in French oak, 42% new

• fermentation:

  Gently desteemed into open-top fermenters; three day cold soak; cap management included pump-overs & punch-downs

94 Points: Jim Gordon Wine Enthusiast - November 2023

“Soft, broad and spicy, this full-bodied wine is luxurious in cinnamon, cloves, dark plums and mulled black cherries, while velvety tannins shape the texture nicely. It’s smooth enough to drink with or without food, but there is no hurry. Best from 2025–2032.”

90 Points: James Molesworth Wine Spectator - December 2023

“Ripe and polished, with superfriendly black cherry and boysenberry puree flavors laced with a light black licorice note. Stays open and curvy through the toasty finish. A crowd-pleaser. Drink now through 2027.”

The 2021 vintage delivered a moderate and consistent growing season for most of Sonoma County, leading to a smooth, easily manageable harvest. While the continuation of drought conditions led to slightly reduced yields, the overall quality and concentration of the grapes was exceptional. We hand-harvested the grapes exactly when we wanted to in the cool evening hours of September 14 and 17, 2021.

River Road Ranch is in the cool heart of the Russian River Valley, where dense fog shrouds the vineyard. It is located on Slusser Road off of River Road. The soil is rich, sandy clay loam, where the plants can sink their roots in and grow healthy, balanced vines. This vineyard has been part of our portfolio for many years but this year, 2021, it showed a unique and precious style that we wanted to showcase as part of our Vineyard Partner Series. We source fruit from three blocks planted to three separate clones: 667, 777, and 828.

• composition:

  100% Pinot Noir

• alcohol: 15.2%
• cases made:

  1,068 Cases

• bottling date: 07/26/2022
• aging:

  Aged 10 months in French oak, 31% new, 51% once-used

• fermentation:

  Gently desteemed into open-top fermenters; three day cold soak; cap management included pump-overs & punch-downs

94 Points: Meridith May The Tasting Panel - May 2024

“Rose petals sprinkled with white pepper and high tones of cranberry-lime report a succulent, juicy mouthfeel. Even tones of black tea and cherry are enveloped within its elegant persona. Thale’s Vineyard surrounds the winery’s new home in the northern end of the Russian River Valley.”

92 Points: Jim Gordon Wine Enthusiast Advance Buying Guide - April 2024

“Good, concentrated cherry flavors and a mouthwatering texture align this medium-bodied wine for myriad food pair¬ings from mushrooms to salmon to roast chicken. Moderate tannins brace the red and black cherries, cranberries and cloves that open up as you sip."

The 2021 vintage delivered a moderate and consistent growing season for most of Sonoma County, leading to a smooth, easily manageable harvest. While the continuation of drought conditions led to slightly reduced yields, the overall quality and concentration of the grapes were exceptional. Thale’s Vineyard was harvested on three different days: September 3, 4, and 8 of 2021. Grapes from seven of the 11 blocks were used to create this complex and delicious blend.

Our Thale’s Vineyard is located in the northernmost part of the Russian River Valley in an area known as the Middle Reach. Named after Steve MacRostie’s wife, Thale (pronounced Thay-lee), this has been MacRostie’s estate vineyard since 2013. The 14-acre property is planted as 11 different blocks. Each block varies in clone, aspect, soil type and year planted, offering great complexity and blending opportunities from the site.

• composition:

  100% Pinot Noir

• alcohol: 14.40%
• cases made:

  906 Cases

• bottling date: 08/17/2022
• aging:

  Aged 10 months in French oak, 48% new, 15% one-year-old

• fermentation:

  Gently desteemed into open-top fermenters; three day cold soak; cap management included pump-overs & punch-downs