92POINTS
17/20
Davis Bynum Dutton Ranches Pinot Noir 2017
Russian River, Sonoma County, California, United StatesI’m guessing the relationship between winemaker Greg Morthole and consulting winemaker David Ramey is as smooth as this wine. The DB Dutton Ranches is a luxurious style of Sonoma pinot without being over the top. The earthy, strawberry, blueberry notes are dense, and fill all your senses. The finish is long and silky with a twist of brown spice and the perfect amount of acidity to keep it fresh. We enjoyed this with a salsa doused piece of Opah, but it would be equally at home with a mushroom pasta or grilled pork. The pinot is aged in French oak barrels, 35 percent of which were new. The winter and spring of 2016-2017 were wet, dumping twice the average precipitation over northern California. The result was an irregular flowering and crop set followed by lower yields. A hot summer including heat spikes and elevated nighttime temperatures were experienced in the Russian River Valley leading up to harvest. At Dutton Ranches, the vines are grown over Goldridge sandy loam, common to this area.Tasted: 14 January 2020Tasted by: Anthony GismondiPrices:BC | $75.00 | 750ml | estimated retail price |
US | $55.00 | 750ml | suggested retail |
Grape: Pinot NoirUPC: 087512880917