Dutton-Goldfield Redwood Ridge Pinot Noir

Sonoma Coast, California

2018
2017

The long 2018 season packed even more lusciousness into our Redwood Ridge Pinot Noir. Woodsy aromas of redwood trees frame the wild brambly berries on the nose, with notes of dried cranberry and darker black tea providing a sweet and savory backdrop. The mouth has that great quality of being super rich yet not at all heavy, brimming with cherry, blackberry and raspberry. Dried thyme and rhubarb add layers of interest to the berry bowl. An extended finish echoes the bold yet elegant blackberry and forest floor essence of the wine. Dishes that incorporate mushrooms or herb rubs would make great partners, as would roasted chicken with crispy bacon or veal chops with a chorizo stuffing. For cheeses, a burrata, Havarti, or Boursin would pair nicely.

Tasting Notes

Food Pairings

You’ll want hearty fare to partner with this bold wine, like osso buco, roasted venison or leg of wild boar, and spiced butternut squash with mushrooms. For cheeses, go with a pecorino, parmesan, and goat cheddar.

Winemaking Notes

The fruit was hand sorted and gently layered into two open top fermenters. The must was cold-soaked for 5 days in order to gently extract color, spice and fruit characters, while mitigating harsher tannins. The fruit is punched down between 1 and 3 times per day depending on the stage of fermentation, and character of the lot. Two of our favorite barrels chosen accentuate the innate depth and richness of the fruit. The Seguin Moreau Icone barrel adds a smoky mushroom while the Taransaud barrel fills out the middle with its classic richness. The wine is racked in March 2019 to blend barrel flavors and clarify then put back to barrel to soften the rich tannins before bottling in March of 2020.

Vineyard Notes

We started sourcing fruit from the Annapolis area of the Sonoma Coast in 2013, and have enjoyed the fruits of our labor ever since. Putnam Vineyards is a family owned and operated vineyard nestled in the Sonoma Coast, about six miles from the ocean. With a cool climate and high annual rainfall, the growing season is long and the grape maturation slow. The 32-acre vineyard is just above the fog line and sits among giant redwoods native to the area. The gravely soil and deficit irrigation creates stressed, naturally low yielding vines, which produce thick skinned fruit, small berries, and concentrated flavors. The wines from the area have beautifully developed tannins and a soft, plush texture.

Technical Info

Alcohol: 14.2% Ta: 6.4 g/L pH: 3.52 Barrel Aging: Aged 16 months in French oak (55% new barrels) Winemaker: Dan Goldfield Cases Produced: 586

Tasting Notes

On the nose, wafts of wild, unrestrained blackberry and redwood duff greet you, confirming what the color promised. A little espresso bean and dried lavender/tarragon spice frame the fruit, giving a little exotic underpinning. The mouth is lush with rich waves of blackberry, with a touch of pomegranate adding a fresh counterpoint. Robust tannins and opulent dark cherry tinged with black tea mark the lengthy finish. This will age beautifully, so be sure to put a case aside to try at intervals over the next fifteen years or more.

Food Pairings

Winemaking Notes

The fruit was hand sorted and gently layered into two open top fermenters. The must was cold-soaked for 5 days in order to gently extract color, spice and fruit characters, while mitigating harsher tannins. The fruit is punched down between 1 and 3 times per day depending on the stage of fermentation, and character of the lot. Two of our favorite barrels chosen accentuate the innate depth and richness of the fruit. The Seguin Moreau Icone barrel adds a smoky mushroom while the Taransaud barrel fills out the middle with its classic richness. The wine is racked in March to blend barrel flavors and clarify then put back to barrel to soften the rich tannins before bottling in July of 2019.