Winemaker Theresa Heredia makes a lot of Pinot Noir, working with 36 different vineyard sites. Many of the Gary Farrell Pinots are site specific, vineyard designates. This wine then tastes and feels like a “greatest hits” wine, because it pulls from all the vineyards, including well known vineyards like Hallberg, Rochioli, and Martaella. Which is why this is really a composite wine, equal to the sun of its parts. The fruit of black cherry, raspberry, huckleberry, blackberry, fresh windflowers, cranberry chutney, and hibiscus permeate the wine. Heredia follows an extended maceration plan, between 7-14 days after fermentation, a “steeping period” she calls it, where the wine just sits; there is no stirring, no punch downs or pump overs. This is what allows the expressiveness to come through. The judicious use of oak – just 10 months in 35% new French – lets you taste all the wonderful fruit.
10,000 cases
ORIGIN: Russian River Valley, Sonoma
PRICE: $45/750 ml
SCORE: 92 POINTS
