Emeritus "Hallberg Ranch" Pinot Noir 2016 [375 mL]
(Russian River Valley, California) - [JS 93] [WE 92]

Notes from the Winemaker:
The 2016 Hallberg Ranch Pinot is pure, elegant, layered and complex. The wine is reminiscent of a warm black cherry tart dusted with cinnamon. There are hints of caramelized sugar and freshly toasted almonds. The wine is driven by dark spices and earth, with a sturdy frame from fine-grained tannins. All of these elements seamlessly combine to create the distinctive wine that is Hallberg Ranch.

Vineyard Notes:
Emeritus Vineyards was founded in 1999 by legendary vintner Brice Cutrer Jones when he acquired the Hallberg Ranch after selling his first winery, Sonoma-Cutrer. The site has a significant marine influence and regular diurnal temperature swings of 40 F. There are eleven clones planted on the site, including two field selections from iconic vineyards in the Cote de Nuits. Because the vineyard has been dry farmed since 2011, the roots of the vines can reach depths of 20 feet or more in search of water stored in the clay subsoil. Dry farming allows the grapes to achieve exceptional physiological ripeness at lower sugar levels, while retaining the acidity that is essential to great Pinot Noir. Hand harvesting at night further ensures that the acidity and complex flavors are preserved in the fruit.

Ratings & Reviews:

93 Points - James Suckling:
"Very attractive aromas of ripe dark cherries here with a swath of blueberries and violets, too. The palate has a supple, smooth and glossy feel with a sleek array of fine tannins, folding out long and smooth at the finish. Solid pinot here. Drink or hold." - (7 Sep, 2019)

92 Points - Wine Enthusiast Magazine:
"From the producer's vast estate vineyard this wine is powerfully built in tannin and rich red-cherry fruit, with an enviable intensity of flavor. A grippy texture underlies an expansive weight and breadth of structure, with deft elements of cola and spicy cinnamon." - Virginie Boone (10/1/2019)

Jeb Dunnuck:
"The Burgundian styled 2016 Pinot Noir Hallberg Ranch (11 months on lees in 32% new French oak) offers a fresh, focused style as well as quality red and black fruits, some underbrush and scorched earth, ripe tannins, and moderate length. It's well made and reminds me of a solid Cote de Nuits." - Jeb Dunnuck (6/14/2019)