Octopoda Pinot Noir Russian River 2022

Kosta Browne Russian River Valley Pinot Noir is made from 100 percent Pinot Noir. 

On the nose, pronounced dark red cherry, intertwined with layers of blackberry and blueberry. The palate shows pomegranate and bramble fruit notes are effortlessly balanced with a refreshing acidity, culminating in a robust, enduring finish.

This year’s blend proudly features our Bootlegger’s Hill Estate vineyard alongside two cherished vineyard designates: Giusti Ranch and Keefer Ranch. Revealing enticing aromas of dark red cherry, blueberry, and raspberry, this Pinot Noir is both flavorful and poised. A refreshing lift gracefully traverses the palate, leading to a captivatingly long finish.

Our Appellation Series wines embody our unwavering commitment to exploration and the artistry of crafting soulful, thought-provoking wines that pay homage to the world’s extraordinary terroirs.

Most vineyards in the Russian River Valley share a common influence—the cooling effect that follows the river inland from the Pacific coast. The resulting fog gracefully envelops the vines at night, providing a crucial respite from the daytime heat. These diurnal temperature shifts delicately slow down ripening, nurturing nuanced flavors in the grapes, earning this region its well-deserved title as the heartland of California Pinot Noir.

Fact of Note: This Russian River Valley blend was the longest to ferment in oak from our Appellation Series.

Paul Hobbs Russian River Pinot Noir is made from 100 percent Pinot Noir.

Sourced predominately from the estates that are defined by their proximity to the coast and Russian River climate, the wine displays vivid crimson and aromas of violet, Morello cherry, and black tea. Velvet tannins on the palate ride along a juicy backbone of flavors such as cranberry, Blood orange, and Damson plum. The finish is long, powered behind a crisp acidity and appealing red clay-like minerality.

Ancien Pinot Noir Russian River Jouissance is made from 100 percent Pinot Noir. 

Jouissance is sourced from the single vineyard established and farmed by Mark Lingenfelder at his home estate.  Mark’s decades of experience as a vineyard manager and consulting viticulturalist have provided him the depth of experience to reach the pinnacle at his own property.  Having worked with storied wineries over the years, we are grateful our paths have crossed enabling us to work with him for our Russian River designate.  He tends the vines himself while relying on neighbor Lee Martinelli to provide additional help at the peak times.  We work with a mix of Pommard and Dijon 667 vines from his oldest and youngest blocks – aged wisdom combines with youthful vigor!

The 2021 growing season was a welcome success after a more varied and challenging 2020.  The vines came on with aplomb, demonstrating the rich fruit concentration we expect – even if the crop was meager.  The ongoing drought in California served to further accentuate the character and concentration of the fruit.  While warmer conditions have prevailed in other areas, the coastal areas of California continue to benefit from the maritime influence and moderating influence that it brings.

We fermented in our one ton, open-top tanks after filling by gravity.  A warm fermentation with a combination of native and isolated Burgundian yeasts produced excellent and focused flavor extraction, complemented with traditional punch-downs by hand. The wine was aged entirely in Francois Freres cooperage, 40% new, and racked once, gently, prior to bottling.  Grapes, must, and wines were moved using gravity through to the barrel and using inert gas through racking and bottling.   151 cases produced.

Bright fruit notes dominate the aromas with bright cherry, plum, and boysenberry underlaid by allspice and clove.  On the palate the wine is liquid velvet, it’s silkiness segueing into a burst of fruit and spice that rides high on the palate while gradually opening to deeper berry, tea, and baking spices.  It is a refreshing and lively Pinot Noir in its youth that will continue to fill out in depth and complexity over the next 2-5 years.

Rubus Reserve Pinot Noir Russian River is made from 100 percent Pinot Noir.

The Rubus Project was created by Fran Kysela as a way to source & sell incredible wines at value prices. All wines in this international project are hand-selected by Fran Kysela. Rubus wines are fruit driven, true-to-type values that over deliver - a true representation of quality for the consumer at an excellent price.

Rubus Reserve Pinot Noir is sourced from Russian River Valley. It shows complexity with raspberry and cherry notes that dance on the tongue.

Ziata Pinot Noir Russian River Valley is made from 100% Pinot Noir. 

Paul Hobbs Pinot Noir Katherine Lindsay Estate is made from Pinot Noir. 

Pure and vibrant, the ruby red 2022 Katherine Lindsay Estate Pinot Noir leads with a nose full of contrasts—fragrant violets, pleasantly bitter dried orange peel, and raspberry tea in an almost confection-like blend are answered by earthier red clay, hints of sage and thyme, and spring forest floor notes. Marked energy keeps the well-structured palate vibrant, with vanilla-kissed red fruit—mountain raspberry, pomegranate, cherry—fresh and seductive at the same time. Fine-grained, almost talc-like tannins edge the long, persistent finish with palpable energy.

Review:

Pouring a medium ruby hue, the 2022 Pinot Noir Katherine Lindsay Estate comes from the Russian River Valley and is mostly produced from the Calera clone of Pinot Noir, along with Swan. Spicy and savory on the nose, it opens to vibrant notes of rose hip rose petals, brambly wild herbs, cranberries, and orange rind. Medium-bodied, it offers compact tension, with fine tannins and elegant, lasting notes of cinnamon on the finish. It’s deserving of another year or two in a cool cellar and drinking over the coming 15 years.

-Jeb Dunnuck 97 Points