92 POINTS, Smart Buy - The Pinot Report
90 POINTS - Wine Spectator
The Russian River Valley provides an ideal Pinot growing climate, with foggy morning to moderate temperatures, but plenty of afternoon sun to ensure the grapes ripen. The result is expressive, balanced wines that highlight the elegance of Pinot Noir.
The 2008 Athair Russian River Pinot Noir is ruby garnet in color, with a nose that starts with aromas of cherry candy and gala apple, but slowly darkens with exposure to air, landing upon cola, blueberry, and vanilla. The palate shows a similar contrast between light and dark, with black cherry, cranberry, anise, pepper and cedar. Fruit forward with good acidity, this has plenty of freshness, yet with a deep core of spice and tannin. This wine wonderfully expresses the “terroir” of the Russian River Valley, with bright red fruit dominating but accompanied by earthy undertones. It’s wonderful to taste a wine and know immediately where it comes from.
As a Sonoma based company, we are of course proud hat one of our AVAs, the Russian River Valley, has become widely recognized as a source of some of the finest Pinot Noir in the New World. Yet, with that renown comes the inevitable increase in demand, and soon, price. This has made it difficult to find good RRV Pinot for less than $40, so we are thrilled that we are able to offer this beautiful example at just $28, it’s an unbelievable bargain! With its bracing acidity and medium body, this is a perfect candidate to put in the fridge for half an hour and serve slightly chilled on one of the last warm nights of the summer.
Variety: Pinot Noir
Appellation: Russian River Valley
Date Harvested: September 2008
Cases Produced: 919
Gold Medal
Light pink in color with aromas of watermelon, cranberry, orange rind, and fresh spring flowers that leap from the glass. The palate offers more peach, strawberry, and melon, with an intriguing note of rose and hibiscus. It's crisp with just the perfect hint of red fruit, and delicate whisper of strawberry that gives goosebumps.
91 Points
Shimmering ruby-purple hue. The nose is a walk through a damp Sonoma forest—mossy bark and wild earth—brightened by high-toned notes of cranberry sauce and blood orange. On the palate, it's generously long in the mouth, with good concentration. It's a masterclass in tension: intense, cherry and red current fruit meets dark spice and fine, sandy tannins.
96 Point Vintage
Entices with aromas of Bing cherry, raspberry, and cedar spice. Indicative of the cool vintage, the wine carries a freshness throughout. The palate offers a harmonious balance between bright red fruit, spice, and nicely woven tannins.
Gold Medal
Generously packed with black cherry, cola, cassis, and plum that all intermingle together in a creamy, velvety texture with great layering, finishing with delightful notes of oak and spice. Persistent, well-defined structure, wonderfully balanced.
97 Points
Rich dark fruit flavors of blackberry and cherry with notes of baking spices, licorice, coffee, and chocolate that interlace seamlessly with complexity, creating a wine that is both structured and delightfully supple, achieving an ideal balance of tension and grace. Artfully composed of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon with 17% Cabernet Franc, resulting in harmonious depth and freshness.
92 Points
A powerful expression of Cabernet Sauvignon. On the nose, it's enticing and fragrant, bursting with fresh blueberries, blackberry tart, cedar, black olives, and hints of spicebox. Its palate provides big, round chewy tannins, sweet ripe black cherries, blackberry cordial, Bourbon-soaked maraschino cherries, maple roasted walnuts, and a touch of vanilla.
