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Russian River Valley Wines

Located in California’s Sonoma Valley, the Russian River Valley Wine Region was granted American Viticultural Area status in 1983. The AVA’s boundaries were then expanded in 2005 by the Alcohol Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, increasing the region by 30,200 acres to 126,600 acres. Moderate in climate, the region experiences a cooling fog that rolls in from the Pacific Ocean typically at night. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay excel in the region, with the cooler temperatures helping to shape the precise acidity and the region’s sandy loam soils creating palate richness. Aromatically, the Pinot Noirs typically yield notes of wild strawberry, black cherry, smoke and earth, while the Chardonnays are fragrant with green apple, nectarine and Meyer lemon. For a full list of ratings and reviews be sure to check out Russian River Valley Buying Guide.

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Williams Selyem 2007 Litton Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley)

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Price $100

A spectacular Pinot Noir, but a very young one, and extremely dry. It’s a wine of great structure, with rich acids and tannins framing extraordinarily complex flavors of grilled cherries, strawberries and raspberries, with complicating notes of cola, pomegranates, orange zest, anise, dusty Asian spices and smoky sandalwood. A truly great Pinot Noir from a great… — S.H. (2/1/2010)

Williams Selyem 2008 Litton Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley)

Cellar Selection
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Price $100

Top 100 Cellar Selections 2011

Score Chasers: USA 2011

This is the best of the winery’s new releases, both for drinking now and for cellaring. Combines power and elegance, with upscale flavors of cherries, currants, cola, rhubarbs, dried herbs and oak, wrapped into devastatingly rich tannins and a perfect touch of acidity. Should age well for 10 years. — S.H. (2/1/2011)

Merry Edwards 2009 Klopp Ranch Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley)

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Price $57

Amazingly rich, offering deep, complex layers of cherries, black raspberries, cola, anise biscotti, pomegranates, persimmons, black tea, orange zest, mushrooms, you name it, but don’t forget the spices, everything from cloves and black pepper to cinnamon. Utterly delicious, with a silky, briskly clean mouthfeel. But the tannins are pronounced. They’re not so strong… — S.H. (5/1/2012)

Williams Selyem 2009 Allen Vineyard Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley)

Cellar Selection

Price $82

A drop-dead gorgeous Pinot Noir that will satisfy everyone from Burgundy fans to diehard Cabernet cultists. Show an elegant complexity and silky texture that define great California Pinot Noir, yet with a powerful impact that emphasizes raspberries, cherries and blueberries. Brilliant acidity and tannins provide the perfect framework on this wine that’s drinkable… — S.H. (2/1/2012)

Merry Edwards 2007 Meredith Estate Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley)

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Price $54

A splendid, near-perfect Pinot, although it’s very young and will benefit from time in the bottle. Few Pinots offer richer, more massive flavors. Just explodes on the palate with raspberries, cherries, persimmons, Dr. Pepper cola, mocha and cinnamon spices, yet the tannin-acid structure keeps it all balanced. A joy to drink as it warms and changes in the glass… — S.H. (6/1/2010)

Semper 2007 Gold Ridge Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley)

Editors' Choice

Price $85

An extraordinary wine. It’s the essence of Russian River Pinot, squared, a big, concentrated, dramatic wine that never loses sight of elegance. Offers a tapestry of cherry pie with the crust, red currant, cherry liqueur and smoky sandalwood flavors that finish with intricate Indian spices. Drink now–2013. — S.H. (4/1/2010)

Williams Selyem 2007 Allen Vineyard Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley)

Cellar Selection
Online Exclusive

Price $78

Not showing well now due to the tannins. It’s dry and tough, with a resistance to the richness. Yet the core of flavor is enormous. Shows concentrated, flashy flavors of cherry marmalade, raspberry, orange blossom, cola, licorice, rose tea and spices that go on and on and continue to develop in the glass. The texture is pure silk and satin. Needs 4–6 years to… — S.H. (2/1/2010)

Joseph Swan Vineyards 2007 Trenton Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley)

Editors' Choice

Price $52

Enthusiast 100 2011

Score Chasers: USA 2011

An awesome Pinot Noir—it’s hard to find words to describe its beauty. It’s bone dry and rich in stimulating acidity, and the cherry and raspberry fruit flavors have an earthy, mushroomy quality that grounds the wine and gives it a real sense of terroir. Shows the fleshy attractions of the amazing ’07 vintage, with an undisputed capacity to age. Now–2017, at least. — S.H. (8/1/2011)

Most Reviewed Producers [All]

A.P. Vin Acacia Acorn Adler Fels Affaire de Coeur Alderbrook Alterra Alysian Amphora Ancien Ancient Oak Cellars Angeline Anthill Arger-Martucci Arista Armanino Family Cellars Armida Arrowood Artesa Athair August Briggs August West Axis B.R. Cohn Baccharis Bailiwick Balletto Bannister Barefoot Cellars Barham Mendelsohn Barnett Baystone Bearboat Beauregard Beaver Creek Belvedere Bennett Family Benovia Benziger Biltmore Bjornstad Bogle Bohemian Bourassa Vineyards Brandborg Brogan Buehler Burgess C&B C&T C. Donatiello Cakebread Calicaro Cameron Hughes Capiaux Carlisle Carol Shelton Cartograph Castalia Castello di Amorosa Castle Castle Rock Chalk Hill Charles Creek Chateau Felice Château Souverain Chateau St. Jean Chime Christopher Creek Churchill Cellars Cline Clos du Bois Conn Valley Coyote Canyon Crinella Crossbarn by Paul Hobbs Cru Vin Dogs Cult D'Argenzio Darms Lane David Bruce David Noyes Davis Bynum Davis Family De La Montanya De Loach Deerfield Ranch Dehlinger Derbes Desmond Diamond Ridge Dogwood Domaine Chandon Domaine Danica Donelan Donum Estate Dry Creek Vineyard Duende Dutch Bill Creek Dutcher Crossing Dutton Estate Dutton-Goldfield Eagles Landing Echelon Ehlers Grove Elias Emeritus En Tirage Enkidu EnRoute Eric Ross Esterlina Everett Ridge Evolve Failla Failla Jordan Falcor Fanucchi Ferrari-Carano Field Stone Fog Crest Foppiano Foppoli Forchini Forenzo ForestVille Francis Ford Coppola Freeman Frei Brothers Fritz Fulcrum Furthermore Gallo Family Vineyards Gallo of Sonoma Gann Gary Farrell Geyser Peak Gia Domella Girard Glover Cravens Godwin Gracianna Graton Ridge Grove Street Halleck Hanna Harrington Hartford Hartford Court Harvest Moon Hauck Hawley Hayman & Hill HB Healdsburg Ranches Heliodoro Herzog HK Generations HKG Holdredge Hook & Ladder Hop Kiln Huntington In Re Inman Family Irony J Vineyards & Winery J. Jacaman J. Lynne JC Cellars JCB Jigar John Tyler Jordan Joseph Jewell Joseph Swan Vineyards JR Wine Keefer Ranch Keegan Kendall-Jackson Kent Rasmussen Kenwood Ketcham Estate Kindred Kirkland Signature Kokomo Korbel Kosta Browne La Crema La Follette La Merika La Rochelle Laguna Lake Sonoma Lambert Bridge Landmark Landy Family Vineyards Lauterbach Le Vin Ledson Limerick Lane Lionheart Longboard Lost Canyon Louis M. Martini Loxton Luko Lutea Lynmar M. Cosentino MacMurray Ranch MacPhail Magness Manzanita Creek Mara Marimar Estate Marimar Torres Mark West Marr Martin Family Vineyards Martin Ray Matrix Mayo Mazzocco McCay Cellars McIlroy Merriam Vineyards Merry Edwards Merryvale Mi Sueño Mia's Playground Michael Bernard Michael Forrest Michael Pozzan Migration Mill Creek Ministry of the Vinterior Miro Montemaggiore Moshin Mossback Most Wanted Winery Mueller Murphy-Goode Nalle Napoma Nelson New Departure Nickel & Nickel Nine Barrel Novy O'Connor Of The Place Old World Olivet Lane Olson Ogden Oriel Ottimino Vineyards Pali Paoletti Papapietro Perry Paradise Ridge Parallel Parkmon Passalacqua Patz & Hall Paul Hobbs Paul Mathew Paul Matthew Pech Merle Pedroncelli Pellegrini Perception Peter Paul Wines Pezzi King Philip Staley Picket Fence Porter Creek Prospero Q Quickfire Radio-Coteau Ramey Rancho Zabaco Ravenswood Raye's Hill Regale Winery and Vineyards Renteria Reynolds Reynolds Family Winery Ridge River Road Vineyards Rivka Simone Roadhouse Winery Robert Craig Robert Rue Vineyard Robert Stemmler Rochioli Rock Wall Rockroom Winemaking Cooperative Rodney Strong Roessler Romililly Rosenblum Rudd Rued Russian Hill Rutz Sable Ridge Salvatore Principe Sapphire Hill Sauvignon Republic Savannah-Chanelle Saxon Brown Scherrer Sea Mist Sebastiani Sebastopol Seghesio Segue Selby Semper Sequana Seven Lions Winery Siduri Signaterra Signaterra Benziger Simi Simple Math Cellars Skewis Small Vines Small Wonders Sonnet Sonoma Cuvée Sonoma Hills Sonoma-Cutrer Sonoma-Loeb Souverain Spann Vineyards Spelletich Cellars ST Staley Thomas St. Francis Stark Starry Night Stephen & Walker Stewart STG Stickybeak Stomping Girl Suacci Carciere Wines Sunbox Eleven Suncé Vineyard & Winery Taft Street Talisman Tandem Tantalus Tarius Terlato Terremoto Cellars Testarossa Thomas George Thumbprint Cellars Ticket Cellars Tin Barn Tin Roof Toad Hall Toad Hollow Toasted Head Topolos Tor Kenward TR Elliott Trecini Trellis Trentadue Trinitas Trione Tudal Twin Oaks Twomey V. Sattui Valdez Valley of the Moon Venezia Verve Villa Mt. Eden Vision Cellars Waits-Mast Waugh Cellars Wellington WesMar Whetstone White Oak William Knuttel Williams Selyem WillowBrook Cellars Windsor Windsor Sonoma Wine Guerrilla Woodenhead X XYZin Y Rousseau Zepaltas Zina Hyde Cunningham

2009 Native 9 Rancho Ontiveros Vineyards

A lovely Pinot, dry, crisp and silky, with ripe raspberry, strawberry…

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