Each year Starling sparrows come by the hundreds to roost in the ancient oaks found at the crossing of Morelli Lane and a view to the Pacific. Located just north of Occidental and sitting at 800 feet above sea level, this vineyard was founded in the late 1890’s and later purchased in 1983 by Bill Moore. Dutton Ranch has since taken over refurbishing and farming this property to perfection. This wine is crisp and savory with a bouquet of meyer lemon zest, mild allspice, toasted pine nuts and fresh oak. Savory pinapple, sweet apple, ripe white peaches, and delicious pear lead the way to perfection in the glass. Wonderful! We have always believed in the ability to age Chardonnay long-term in cellar, however, conditions must be absolutely perfect to achieve success to achieve 15+ years of ageing in Chardonnay....

Founded in 2015 by Crawford and Jane Selina Kwon Wells of Sebastopol, Five Wells Vineyard is located at the southernmost edge of the Russian River Valley AVA in the sub-region of Sebastopol Hills. Heavily influenced by the diurnal temperature swings due to atmospheric fog stream outflux and influx zones along the northern edge of the Petaluma Gap AVA, this is cool-climate Pinot Noir at its best. Candied cranberries, cherry cola, cinnamon, orange rind lead into spiced cream, vanilla bean, fresh tobacco leaf and anise. The palate is at once savory and fruit packed with muddled orange rind and bay leaf, rhubarb, dark blackberry and raspberry hard candy, blue herbs, a touch of barrel vanillin with a substantially long finish. Medium tannins and significant glide round out this compelling rendition from the Sebastopol Hills sub-region....

Located in the Green Valley sub-appellation of the Russian River Valley, just across Purrington Creek outside of the town of Graton, the Manzana Vineyard is planted on a gently sloped hillside composed of Goldridge soils. The name “Manzana,” Spanish for apple, honors the area’s long heritage of apple orchards. Manzana’s hillside vineyard is eastern facing, which is optimal for ripening Pinot Noir in cooler growing regions. Planted to clone Dijon 828 and Dijon 115 in 2001, this vineyard sits on a sloped foundation of Goldridge soil with ideal drainage into Purrington Creek. A full, bold style of Pinot Noir, the nose opens with aromatic concentrations of blue herbs, wild flowers, allspice and a dash of fresh earth. The mouthfeel instantly engages the intellect with exotic expansiveness, tongue curling acidity, and a savory glide that finishes with substantial length on the palate. Full, yet balanced to perfection, this wine rewards the senses over and over again with each sip....

Within the vicinity of Silver Eagle and Treehouse Vineyards, coming off of Stoetz Lane, and not so far from Camp Meeker, lies the Ruxton Vineyard. Sitting at 800 feet of elevation atop the Stoetz Ridge, this vineyard lies in the heart of the Green Valley district within the broader Russian River Valley appellation. Ideally planted to Pinot Noir clones 667, 777, and 115 where cool climate conditions and sandy loam soils create the perfect environment for producing exceptional Pinot Noir. We are fortunate to have access to this vineyard that is well-known as the hidden gem amongst the winegrowing elite. Aromatically stunning, this wine opens with allspice, pink peppercorn, beechnut, baking flour, fruit cake, black plum pulp and baked gingerbread. The mouthfeel is dense, viscous, layered and extracted with pomegranate concentrate, semi-sweet chocolate, ripe fig, black cherry licorice. Full-bodied and complex with weight-lifting acidity, this is a wine worthy of extended contemplation....

One of our most substantial, complex wines among our mix of single-vineyard Pinot Noirs, this wine is a rare beauty. Raw honey and crème de cassis hit the senses, quickly leading to licorice, black cherries, sweet tobacco leaf, blue herbs, cream soda, cardamom and coconut. On the palate this wine is massive and full-bodied with blueberry compote, candied raspberries, plum concentrate, bittersweet cocoa and crushed espresso bean, with mouthwatering acidity and a perpetual finish. Delicious!...

Small lot Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre and the blended GSM captured our hearts decades ago coming up in the industry. Grown to perfection and in the right locations, there was magic in the bottle of these off-variety productions that offered a range of styles from quaffable, aromatic beauties to hedonistic ink bombs that everyone seemed to pan at our wine parties, despite not a drop being spared in the bottles of the heartier efforts. It was, particularly during the late 1990’s, with Zinfandel and GSM productions that we witnessed a cultural shift in |production from lower alcohol wines to more fruit forward, fully ripened renditions. While we find great pleasure in debating the attributes of both style preferences, there is an argument to be established in any Northern California, wine-country tasting room that California began to define itself outside of traditional French-based winemaking practices during this period, and much to the flavorful benefit of the consuming public. That’s where we come in with our version of GSM. Croix Estate enthusiasts have come to recognize that we are not shy about growing fruit to its optimal ripeness. However, where there is ripeness, there is balance and harmony, and our Croix Estate Cinghiale GSM Red Blend is no exception on both fronts. Toasted oak char, white smoke, black pepper, dense red berry fruit and Cape jasmine waft from the glass drawing one’s curiosity. The palate reveals flavors of ripe black plum, blackberry, sweet cassis, with hints of black pepper, espresso and semi-sweet cocoa. The finish is lengthy and viscous with vibrant acidity adding substantial length to the session....

Our Croix Estate Vineyard is a heritage vineyard site located next door to the Fanucchi Wood Road Vineyard and across the drive from the Chelli and Belloni Vineyards. South of the Russian River near Forestville, the Laguna Ridge sub-region overlooks the Laguna de Santa Rosa. Goldridge and Altamont soils meet hot days and cool, foggy nights to create lush, high-quality Pinot Noirs and Zinfandels with enough tannins to provide structure for ageing. Our estate vineyard is dry farmed on low pH/fertility sandy loam soils, set in a temperate growing environment where cool, foggy mornings give way to warm summer days, producing bold and powerful results. This sexy, ripe and jammy Zinfandel opens with lively aromatics of boysenberry, blueberry, black cherry, and lavender catch curiosity immediately. The wine’s hue sheets the glass with jet black ink, indicative of Alicante Bouchet’s influence on the concentration of color. The mouthfeel is a viscous, luscious harmony of star anise, black plum, blackberries, and savory sweet bliss....