Our eyes lit up when this sample arrived, as this one has pretty much everything going for it. Estate grown, Heintz Ranch is one of Sonoma’s great vineyards. The fruit is meticulously farmed by Charles Heintz, as he sells most of his fruit to Sonoma’s top producers, including Littorai, Freeman, and Williams-Selyem.
The Heintz vineyard is one of the most well known in the Russian River Valley, yielding fruit that is regularly vineyard designated by some of the top labels in Sonoma County, fetching prices that start at $50 and go up from there. Heintz bottles their own wine from this vineyard as well, but they also have a second label, called Dutch Bill Creek that is much more affordably priced.
The 2010 Dutch Bill Creek Russian Rive Valley Pinot Noir is very pale ruby in color, with just a hint of garnet. The nose is incredibly perfumed, with aromas of red cherry, cranberry, pomegranate and potpourri. The palate is light bodied with wonderful acidity, showing more red fruit, barely ripe raspberry, as well as floral and saline flavors. This is an elegant, light bodied wine, yet it still has great intensity. For fans of pinot noir made in a graceful style, this is a bargain not to be missed.
We consider this wine one of the best values in California Pinot, and a stunning wine in its own right.
Appellation: Appellation: Sonoma Coast (100% Heintz Ranch)
Production: 149 cases
Alcohol: 14.2%
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.
