Chenoweth Ranch

Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

2010

91 Points
Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar | May 2012
“Good bright red-ruby. Very pure aromas of raspberry, cherry and cocoa powder. Pungent, nicely concentrated red berry and cherry flavors suggest strong extract. A very sweet, ripe style that will no doubt become rounder and more viscous with some time in bottle, but I'd drink this one on the early side. Finishes with a broad dusting of smooth tannins. I like what the cool growing season has done for this warm site.” - Stephen Tanzer

97 Points
Wine Review Online | November 2012
“Today’s Featured Wine"
“There is always much talk in the wine industry about the benefit of old vines. Patz & Hall's Chenoweth Ranch Pinot Noir could make the case for young vines, for this relatively new vineyard was planted in 2000 by longtime viticulturist Charlie Chenoweth. Maybe what it really says is that the site of the vineyard is inherently more important than the age of the vines. This is a stunning vintage from this rapidly emerging vineyard, which may well be the best Pinot site in the entire Patz & Hall stable. While a bit high in alcohol-by-volume (it's pushing 15 percent) the 2010 Chenoweth Ranch Pinot exhibits exquisite balance and layers of ripe red fruits, with a floral nuance and notes of spice. This is one eye-popping New World Pinot that is sure to wow the most discriminating palates.” - Robert Whitley

2009

91 Points
WineLines Online | November 2011
“Achieving balance in life can be challenging, and the same is true in winemaking, particularly when it comes to aging wines in oak barrels. Here is a wine that has attained a virtually perfect balance between the fruit and oak impressions. Opaque purple in hue, with some violet streaks, it has a fleshy plum and currant aroma, joined by nice wood spices and a sharp pomegranate edge. With time in the glass, the aroma morphs to that of a freshly baked cherry pie. The wine — aged in Burgundian French oak barrels, 70% of which were being used for the first time — is clean and fruity, all the way to the lingering sweet fruit finish that echoes... and echoes.” - Glen Fredericksen

91+ Points
Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar | March 2011
"Bright ruby-red. Musky, soil-driven aromas of black raspberry, black tea and flowers. Concentrated, juicy and penetrating, conveying a high-pH mouth feel but good energy and firm underlying structure. The wine's floral element builds with aeration. Finishes with firm tannic spine and very good juicy persistence. Made from Dijon clones that yielded less than 1.5 tons per acre in 2009, according to winemaker Hall. This should age nicely." - Stephen Tanzer

93 Points
Wine Spectator | April 2012
“Very impressive, pure and firm, this is marked by a density of flavor, with tight flavors of dark blackberry, cedar, spice and mineral. Full-bodied, deep and persistent on the finish. Needs time. Drink now through 2021. 635 cases made.” - James Laube

2008

91 Points
Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar | June 2010
“Good deep red-ruby. Very ripe aromas of black fruits, menthol and mulled spices, with a touch of warmth. Dense, plump and sweet; in a distinctly opulent New World style, with a lot of everything. This is actually a bit youthfully aggressive today but its sweet tannins suggest it just needs a year or so to calm down.” - Stephen Tanzer

2007

93 Points
Wine Spectator.com | March 2010
“Intense, rich, ripe and vibrant, showing loads of blackberry, wild berry andraspberry fruit, with floral and spicy scents. Full-bodies, balanced, deep andpersistent, ending with firm tannins." - James Laube

2006

93 Points
Wine Spectator | June 2009
“An exceptional 2006 that offers wonderful harmony andfinesse. Full-bodied, ripe and fleshy plum, black cherryand raspberry fruit is intense yet elegant. Smooth, deepand persistent." - James Laube

2004

93 Points
Wine Spectator | June 2006
A mix of supple, generous, exotic blueberry and blackberry fruit that’s pure… More>