96 Points, Double Gold - Press Democrat North Coast Wine Challenge
94 Points - Wine Enthusiast
Only a 100 cases made.
You'll want to grab as much as you can.
VINEYARD
Peters Vineyard is a topflight Pinot Noir vineyard located in the Russian River just southwest of Sebastopol. Along with the cool climate, the Gold Ridge soils form an idyllic terroir for growing premium Pinot Noir. While Randy Peters grows multiple clones of Pinot on his property, Enkidu sources just Pommard. Pommard can be earthy with great structure that more expresses a masculine texture versus the Dijon clones that have a more feminine tilt. Randy’s vineyard has an abundance of sunshine, but mornings of fog and moderate temperatures give length to the growing season. The low yields of the Peters Vineyard further lend itself to expressive wines of depth and concentration. This is truly a gem in the riches of the Russian River Valley.
WINEMAKING
They hand sort all of the fruit and employ a saignée of 15-20% to concentrate the skins on the juice. After a 5 day cold soak native yeast fermentation begins. With 12-15 days in tank they transfer the free run and first low pressings of high quality must to tank to settle. The wine is then transferred to barrels, 33% new French, where it aged for 15 months. No racking during this period, but periodically stir the barrels that still contain lees. Before bottling they determine what level filtration is required, but most receive minimal attention. Their Pinots are never fined.
VINTAGE
The 2022 vintage in Russian River Valley produced Pinot Noirs characterized by vibrant fruit, exotic spice, and layered texture. The wines show a classic style with notes of red and black fruit, along with hints of cola, earth, and spice. The 2022 season saw a relatively smooth start, with minimal frost incidents and temperate weather during bloom and set. However, a Labor Day weekend heatwave led to higher temperatures, accelerating grape ripening and resulting in earlier-than-average pick dates. Unseasonal rains followed, along with warm autumn weather, which helped with hang time and fruit maturity. The 2022 vintage in Russian River Valley is considered to have produced high-quality Pinot Noirs with excellent structure, great acidity, and fantastic aging potential.
APPELLATION: Russian River Valley
VARIETAL: Pinot Noir, Pommard Clone
HARVEST DATE: August 25th, 2022
AGING: 15 Months in 33% New French oak barrels
BOTTLING DATE: June, 2023
TA: 6.1 gms/L
pH: 3.45
ALCOHOL: 13.8%
All Wines
99 Point Vintage
Bold and luxurious, rich and forward with a deep garnet-purple color, it strides confidently out of the glass with subtle hints of herbs de Provence, lavender, into black fruit with notes of crushed blueberries, fresh blackberry, warm cassis, tobacco and barrel spices galore.
94 Points
Deep garnet-purple in color and strides confidently out of the glass with notes of crushed blueberries, ripe blackberry, and warm cassis with hints of cherry, black olive, currant and a touch of black pepper.
94 Points
Blueberry, currant and sweet spice on the nose, with satiny layers of marionberry, and fresh macerated blackberries, surrounding a core of leather, tobacco leaf, sandalwood, and tobacco. Medium to full bodied, it's polished and creamy with nice weight on the mid palate.
94 Points
Deep garnet in color from the ripe 2018 vintage, with open aromas of lush fruit – plum, blackberry, and cherry, and notes of cedar, vanilla, and white pepper. Across the palate it's quite seamless and silky, rich and concentrated. The fruit flavors are bold and vibrant. Mouth-filling with smooth tannins, great texture and a long delicious finish.
92 Points
Aromas of blackberry, dried fig, black cherry, blackberry coulis, toasted vanilla, and a hint of cigar box. The palate offers rich and velvety tannins, dark chocolate-covered cherries, black plum, mixed berry pie and toasted walnut. Long and expressive with loads of flavor.
94 Points
Aromas of cocoa mingle with notes of cassis, black cherry, blackberry coulis, graphite, toasted vanilla, and a hint of cedar. The palate is harmonious as the richness of barrel spice melds seamlessly with juicy plum, blackberry and licorice flavors. An incredibly polished texture, even at a young age. Long and expressive with loads of flavor.
Luxurious & Delicious...
Aromas of rich cherry, black currant, dark plums, with hints of lightly toasted vanilla, mint and crushed slate. The concentrated flavors further integrate with blackberries, tobacco, anise and earthiness with a balanced oak profile, layered palette, leaving you with its delightful finish.
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