Pinot Noir
"From a ridge-top, western-facing site greatly influenced by the Pacific Ocean, this is exotic and distincy in character, with tones of white pepper, tart cherry, rhubarb and strawberry. Gorgeously layered, delicate and structured, it has length and richness to the tannin profile, as well as a notion of peat that adds to the dramatic complexity of the wine." - Virginie Boone, Wine Enthusiast, July 2018
"Medium to deep ruby-purple colored, the 2015 Hartford Court Pinot Noir Jennifer's leaps from the glass with exuberant raspberry preserves, cranberry tart and black forest cake notes with touches of wild thyme, red roses and menthol. Medium to full-bodied, the palate simply sings of red and black berry flavors complimented with dried herbs and savory notes, supported by firm, very fine-grained tannins and great freshness, finishing very long and perfumed. Should age wonderfully!" - Lisa Perotti-Brown, Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate, December 2017
"Also from the Green Valley portion of the Russian River Valley, from two separate blocks in the vineyard, the 2015 Pinot Noir MacLean's Block offers ample black cherries, exotic darker fruits, some toasty oak, medium to full body, and a lush, rounded, deep style on the palate. This cuvée sees a touch of whole cluster inclusion and is aged in 29% new French oak. Give this savory, rich, concentrated (masculine even) Pinot Noir a few years and enjoy over the following decade." - Jeb Dunnuck, June 2018
"Coming from a site on the northern end of Anderson Valley, the 2015 Pinot Noir Velvet Sisters (from a mix of Dijon clones) was completely destemmed and spent 16 months in just under 30% new French oak. It has a rich, broad, expansive blue-fruited bouquet of spiced plums, blueberries, vanilla, and dried flowers. One of the richer, more full-bodied, opulent and sexy wines in the lineup, it’s ideal for drinking over the coming decade." - Jeb Dunnuck, June 2018
"From the cooler Green Valley region of the Russian River, the 2015 Pinot Noir Hailey’s Block was completely destemmed and spent 16 months in 27% new French oak. Hailey's Block is a block within the Arrendell Vineyard, named after Don and Jennifer Hartford's daughter. It’s another beautifully Burgundian wine from this estate that offers crisp black cherry, crushed rock, charcoal, and wood smoke aromas and flavors. It’s fresh, focused, and youthful, with fine tannin and high yet integrated acidity. Give it a year or three and it will keep for a decade or more." - Jeb Dunnuck, June 2018
"From the oldest vines planted in the 1970s, the 2015 Pinot Noir Arrendell Vineyard is a perfumed, spicy wine that's just singing on the nose. Ripe cherries, raspberries, candied orange, and exotic spices give way to a medium to full-bodied, supple, seamless Pinot Noir. It has bright acidity, sweet, vibrant, fruit, notable tannin, and a great finish. Like a lot of the wines here, it has the fruit to shine, but this is certainly one of the more structured and tannic wines in the lineup"- Jeb Dunnuck, June 2018
"Medium ruby-purple colored, the 2015 Hartford Court Pinot Noir Fog Dance Vineyard gives a full on bombastic black cherry and black raspberry-scented nose with hints of rose hip tea, dark chocolate and lavender with a hint of black pepper. Medium-bodied, the palate is very elegant and fresh with more of a savory/earthy character coming through, supported by fine-grained tannins and finishing on a beautiful stewed tea note." - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate, December 2017
"One of the brilliant efforts from Hartford Court is the 2015 Pinot Noir Land's Edge Vineyards. From a site located only four miles from the Pacific Ocean, this wine has a saturated ruby/purple color and a beautiful concentration of blueberry, black raspberry and black cherry, some crushed rock and spring flowers. The terrific fruit on the attack and mid-palate, the full-bodied finish and intensity are all promising in this brilliant effort. Drink it over the next decade" - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate, October 2016
"Brought up in 48% new French oak, sourced from a higher elevation vineyard on the southern end of the Anderson Valley, the 2015 Pinot Noir Muldune Trail offers a Burgundian bouquet of ripe black cherries, currants, scorched earth, forest floor, and Asian spices. It’s complex, beautifully concentrated and opulent, with a powerful, full-bodied profile. Possessing moderate acidity, drink this pleasure-bent beauty over the coming 7-8 years." - Jeb Dunnuck, June 2018
"This is the the second vintage produced of this wine. Medium ruby-purple in color, the 2015 Hartford Court Pinot Noir Warrior Princess opens with warm, red currants, black cherries and violet notes with touches of black soil, stewed tea, garrigue and dried herbs. Medium to full-bodied, the palate offers up a very firm structure of wonderfully ripe, grainy tannins, with a refreshing backbone supporting the intense earthy/savory flavors, finishing long. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Advocate, December 2017
Marin County lies to the north of San Francisco, just across the Golden Gate Bridge and goes up to Bodega Bay. This is a cool, foggy region and the 2015 Pinot Noir Marin County was destemmed and spent 16 months in 32% new French oak. Cranberries, white cherries, spice, bay leaf, and sassafras notes all flow to a beautifully balanced, medium-bodied Pinot Noir that shines for its complexity and nuance. It’s one of the fine, ethereal wines in the lineup, yet doesn’t lack for intensity or depth. It’s going to keep for 10-12 years. - Jeb Dunnuck, June 2018
Another saturated ruby/purple wine is the 2014 Pinot Noir Far Coast Vineyard. This comes from a mountain ridge north of Fort Ross at a 1,000-foot elevation. Dense ruby purple, with notes of sassafras, forest floor, red and black cherries, raspberry and underbrush, the wine exhibits medium to full body and terrific texture and length. This is another 10-year Pinot Noir, but should be drinkable during that entire window of opportunity. - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate, October 2016
"True to its Carneros roots, the 2014 Sevens Bench Pinot Noir carries the hallmark of the region – fruit intensity balanced by an earthy and savory side. The aromas open with black cherry and boysenberry and lead into subtle mushroom and spice characters. The flavors are reminiscent of black cherry and Asian spice, with a subtle tea and spice component driven by a small amount of whole-cluster fermentation. The wine finishes with a juiciness and elegant tannins in the finish." - Jeff Stewart, Winemaker
