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
94 Points
Decadent, rich, and supple. Aromas of black cherry, dark chocolate, crushed stone, dried herbs, and cedar lead into layered notes of cassis, fennel, baked plums, mocha powder, and cigars dusted with roasted Herbs de Provence, earth and red volcanic mineral notes. Full-bodied and rich, with a firm spine of racy acidity and ultra-fine, gravelly tannins that carry the lasting, mouthwatering finish.
93 Points
Aromas of blackcurrant, dark plum, and cedar unfold alongside soft notes of vanilla and toasted oak. On the palate, structured tannins frame layers of black cherry, baking spice, and a subtle herbal lift from the Merlot blended beneath the Cabernet's backbone. Medium-bodied gem with good concentration finishing long and warm, with lingering impressions of cocoa and dried fig.
94 Points
A full-throttle, blackberry-driven red, laden with chalky minerality and layered with robust tannins. Violet scents mingle with fig and plum fruit in a medium- to full-bodied expression that hits all the right chords, delivering a pleasing one-two punch to the senses.
