Behind the Cork™ - Gary Farrell Russian River Selection Pinot Noir

2022 Gary Farrell Russian River Selection Pinot Noir ($22)

Gary Farrell Russian River Selection Pinot Noir is blended from some of the region’s top vineyards. The Rochioli and Bacigalupi vineyards are in the Middle Reach subdivision, where close proximity to the river awards foggy mornings, warm and sunny days, and cool nights. The Toboni vineyard is in the Santa Rosa Plain, a distinctly cooler and foggier sub-region, while the Hallberg and McDonald Mountain Vineyards, located within the Green Valley and Sebastopol Hills neighborhoods, exhibits even more extreme cool climate conditions.

This wine is made from 100% Pinot Noir grapes that are hand sorted. Some of the grapes were de-stemmed and then transferred to small, open-top tanks where a small percentage of whole cluster fruit was added. It underwent malolactic conversion and was aged in 35% new French oak barrels for nine months on primary lees.

Gary Farrell Russian River Selection Pinot Noir is a medium ruby red in color with nice, bright red fruit aromas. On the palate, this medium-bodied Pinot Noir has flavors of sour cherry and cranberry.

Gary Farrell is a top Russian River producer of Pinot Noir. And, at this price, an amazing value. A perfect fit as this week’s Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. Cheers!

Behind the Cork™ - Amrita Cellars Pinot Noir

Amrita Cellars is a small boutique winery that began with its 2017 production of three barrels and 75 cases. It remains small with limited productions in order to focus on producing the best. Amrita Cellars works with the best growers and ultimately the best grapevines. They partner with family-owned wine growers that have been using renewable and sustainable farming practices for many generations to ensure viability.

2017 Amrita Cellars Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir ($35)

The Amrita Cellars Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir is produced from 100% Pinot Noir that was aged for 11 months in oak. The wine is pale ruby in color with pink edges. With the aroma, you are first introduced to the fragrance of earth tones of black mushroom and fruit jam. It is light on the palate with pronounced earthiness and light tannin.

2018 Amrita Cellars Russian River Valley Pinot Noir ($40)

The Amrita Cellars Russian River Valley Pinot Noir is produced from 100% Pinot Noir that was aged for 11 months in oak. It is pale ruby in color with pink edges and has earthy aromas along with hints of cherry. On the palate it has the classic delicate flavors of cherry and cranberry.

Amrita Cellars may be relatively new to the game, but these two vintages are just the start for them and indicators of great things to come. Look for these wine on-line at AmritaCellars.com

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Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received these samples at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Samples Provided by Amrita Cellars

Behind the Cork™ - Ron Rubin Wines

Ron Rubin Wines

Late in 2011, in fulfillment of a 40-year dream that began in his student days at UC Davis studying viticulture and enology in the early 1970’s, he purchased River Road Family Vineyards and Winery. Rubin was sold on the area, in the Green Valley AVA, a sub-zone of Russian River Valley, because it is cool and foggy, thanks to the Petaluma Gap, and has distinctive low-fertility and well-drained sandy loam Goldridge soils.

A vintner and self-styled “beverage guy,” Ron Rubin’s intent is to make affordable and accessible wines (a perfect fit for Behind the Cork™!), all-round “beautiful experiences” (a favorite expression of his), i.e. Sonoma wines to be consumed and enjoyed. The prospect of making high-priced, super-limited-production, hard-to-find wines is not what makes Rubin tick. For you and me, that translates into beautiful wines you can feel good about buying.

Ron Rubin Russian River Pinot Noir ($25)

Before I get started on this one, I must confess that Russian River Pinot Noir is a favorite of mine. This one is a beautiful pale ruby in color, with the classic aroma of red fruits (cherry, cranberry, raspberry). It was cold-soaked for 5-days. It was then fermented, pressed and aged in 100% French Oak barrels, 20% new, for a total of 10 months. The result is true to Russian River Pinot’s with that wonderful cherry, raspberry and cranberry flavor, easy tannins and a wonderful finish with hints of vanilla.

Pam’s Un-Oaked Chardonnay ($14)

Made for Ron Rubin’s wife, Pam, who admits she doesn’t like most Chardonnays. Per her preference, this Chardonnay is crisp, light, with a touch of sweetness and easy to enjoy. It’s golden in color with aromas of ripe apple and hints of tropical fruit. It is very smooth and light, with flavor of ripe pear.

The Ron Rubin Winery is SIP-certified (Sustainability in Practice -- the gold standard for sustainable vineyard, winery and wine certification), and Certified Sustainable by the California Sustainable Wine growing Alliance.

These are both very enjoyable and affordable wines. Enjoy. Cheers!

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Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received these samples at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Samples Provided by Creative Palate Communications

Behind the Cork™ - Merry Edwards Meredith Estate Russian River Pinot Noir

2017 Merry Edwards Meredith Estate Russian River Pinot Noir ($68)

My favorite Pinot Noir wines are from the Russian River. That’s where I first fell in love with Pinot and I haven’t found a region that can beat it. And, this Merry Edwards Pinot Noir stands with the best of them.

The Meredith Estate (Merry’s given names is Meredith) was Merry’s first adventure into viticulture that began more than 20 years ago. It was planted in 1996 with emphasis on its orientation to the site, soil amendments, the style of trellising and training used and the crucial selection of the rootstocks and clones.

Merry states that “The experience shaped my conversion from being a winemaker to being a vigneron or winegrower.”

This Merry Edwards Meredith Estate Pinot Noir is ruby red in color with delicate aromas of cherry and stone fruits with a noticeable hint of oak. On the palate it initially presents tart cherry and cranberry, has light tannin mid-way that transitions to a wonderfully easy and long finish.

This medium-bodied Meredith Estate Pinot Noir from Merry Edwards is excellent and will pair with most foods. And it’s great on its own! Cheers!

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Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received this sample at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Sample Provided by Jill Schlegel of Merry Edwards Winery

Behind the Cork™ - Merry Edwards Sauvignon Blanc

2018 Merry Edwards Russian River Sauvignon Blanc ($36)

This is an outstanding Sauvignon Blanc!

This Merry Edwards Russian River Sauvignon Blanc was fully barrel fermented in Tonnellerie Cadus French Oak barrels, 18% of which were new. It was then left on lees for six months with twice weekly stirrings.

The aromas of this Sauvignon Blanc include tropical fruits, pineapple, baked apple and a touch of lime. But that’s where the “typical” characteristics of a Sauvignon Blanc end.

On the palate this wine is smooth, rich and creamy. It has flavors of pear, grapefruit and just a hint of buttery caramel. Quite unusual for a Sauvignon Blanc. Just as the light acidity is too. And the finish just keeps going and going with a softness that’s extraordinary.

This Merry Edwards Sauvignon Blanc is not the big, bright, high acidity Sauvignon Blanc that you would think. Instead, it’s soft and silky smooth. Wow! This is a Sauvignon Blanc that I’d put on the top of any list. It’s terrific!

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Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received this sample at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Sample Provided by Jill Schlegel of Merry Edwards Winery