Gary Farrell Winery

Russian River Selection Pinot Noir 2018

Russian River Valley, California

Download Listen

The Russian River Selection bottlings are quintessential Russian River Valley wines blended from some of the region’s top vineyards, taking advantage of varied climates and unique site characteristics.  Undoubtedly showcasing a beautiful expression of the varietal and of the appellation’s unique terroir, this Pinot Noir blend captures the richness, purity and elegance that are Gary Farrell Winery’s trademarks.

VINEYARD

Russian River Selection bottlings are quintessential Russian River Valley wines blended from some of the region’s top vineyards, taking advantage of varied climates and unique site characteristics. The Rochioli and Bacigalupi vineyards are located in the Middle Reach subdivision, where close proximity to the river awards foggy mornings, warm and sunny days, and cool nights – the perfect balance that characterizes the Russian River Valley. The Toboni and Nonella vineyards are located in the Santa Rosa Plain, a distinctly cooler and foggier sub-region, and the Hallberg and Dutton sites within the Green Valley sub-appellation exhibit even more extreme and cooler conditions. A beautiful expression of the varietal and of the appellation’s unique terroir, this Pinot Noir blend captures the richness, purity and elegance that are Gary Farrell Winery’s trademarks.

WINEMAKING

Grapes were harvested in the cool morning hours then brought to the winery. After a careful hand sorting, some of the grapes were gently de-stemmed, then transferred to small, open-top tanks while a small percentage of the fruit was added later as whole clusters. The juice for each tank was chilled to 45°F and allowed to cold soak for 4-7 days before fermentation was started. During fermentation, the cap was gently punched down 2-3 times per day. After fermentation, the new wine and its solids were allowed to sit in tank for 7-10 days of extended maceration, a period during which the tannins soften and the primary fermentation esters develop more complexity. The wine was then gently pressed off the skins and seeds, inoculated for malolactic fermentation and racked into 35% new French oak barrels (light toast François Frères, Ana Selection, Remond and Tonnellerie O) for 10 months of barrel aging on primary lees.

VINTAGE

After several years of drought, heat and early harvests, 2018 was a breath of fresh air and a return to a more normal harvest onset. The season began with a cold, wet winter, which set the pace in that it delayed vine development by 3-4 weeks. Budbreak began mid to late March, followed by a mild, sunny spring. When bloom ensued in mid to late May, the weather was just right, with very little wind and no rain to damage the delicate flowers. When growers saw the generous potential cluster count after flowering, they knew it was going to be an ample crop. The nearly perfect weather throughout the summer months led to a very large, yet excellent quality crop. The month of August yielded typical, foggy mornings, with sun finally breaking through late morning and vanishing again late afternoon. Harvest commenced on August 30th and we were finished by September 29th, just before the rain came. Despite the quantity of clusters per vine, flavor, concentration and tannin levels were quite excellent. Canopy management was extremely important in that fruit thinning was necessary at multiple stages of vine development.

TASTING NOTE

Opening up with an intoxicating bouquet of brandied cherries, raspberry panna cotta and rose geranium, the 2018 Russian River Selection Pinot Noir lures you in to discover layers upon layers of aroma and flavor. The initial scent of juicy red fruits and floral herbs linger on the nose while subtle hints of clove, cocoa butter and creamy caramel swirl in the glass. The palate explodes with the taste of cranberry chutney, Hibiscus tea and vanilla beans with undertones of ginger snap cookies and dark cocoa nibs. The underscore of vibrant acidity and silky tannin make this wine perfect on its own or with a variety of different foods.

Color

Red

Grape Varieties

Pinot Noir

Appellation

Russian River Valley, California

Alcohol

13.9%

Suggested Retail Price

$45

Reviews

Wine Enthusiast (Editor's Choice ) - February 5, 2021 "Sumptuous in strawberry, blackberry and nutmeg spice, with prominent tannin structure, this is a balanced wine sourced from enviable sites such as Hallberg, Rochioli and Martaella. Orange peel, black tea and dried herb accent a creamy, decadent texture that is never weighted down, boosted by buzzed acidity throughout."

"Lovely and satisfying"

Wine & Spirits - February 25, 2021

"Fresh and vibrant with scents of apple blossoms and flavors of tart strawberries, this is a springtime wine that lasts on beautiful fragrant fruit. The floral notes of jasmine add to the wine’s clean feel. Rather than ambitious or complex, this wine is lovely and satisfying."

More on Gary Farrell Winery Russian River Selection Pinot Noir 2018

The 14 Best California Pinot Noirs to Drink This Year

October 7, 2020 - Liquor.com included Gary Farrell Russian River Selection Pinot Noir in an article about the best California Pinot Noirs to drink this year. Writer Jonathan Cristaldi says, "Gary Farrell Vineyards puts…

Gary Farrell Vineyard: Outstanding New Releases from Winemaker Theresa Heredia

October 7, 2020 - The International Wine Review highlighted a range of new releases from Gary Farrell Winery, including the 2017 Olivet Lane Chardonnay, 2018 Russian River Selection Chardonnay, 2017 Hallberg Vineyard Pinot Noir…

Trade Materials

Videos

Other Wines by this Producer

Hallberg Vineyard Pinot Noir

Russian River Valley, California

Named for its previous owners, the 100-acre Hallberg Vineyard is today owned and managed by wine industry veterans including vineyard manager Kirk Lokka. Nestled in the Green Valley sub-appellation, the site enjoys refreshing daytime breezes and cool nighttime temperatures. The strong marine influence means less severe daily temperature shifts so the vines never completely shut down, producing fruit with deep, dark color, great structure, silky tannins, darker fruit flavors and earthy characteristics. This blend is a composition of many of the best blocks on this cool, foggy vineyard site, which include clones 667, 777, 828, Pommard and a mysterious “suitcase” selection.

Russian River Selection Chardonnay

Russian River Valley, California

The Russian River Selection bottlings are quintessential Russian River Valley wines blended from some of the winery’s top vineyard sources. They are beautiful expressions of their varietal type and of the appellation’s unique terroir, each blend capturing the richness, purity and elegance that are Gary Farrell Winery’s trademarks. This layered and complex Chardonnay brings together fruit from several of our favorite Russian River Valley vineyard sites.

Olivet Lane Chardonnay

Russian River Valley, California

Pellegrini’s Olivet Lane Vineyard was planted in 1975 to Wente selection on AXR rootstock. The vineyard sits on 65 acres of sloping bench land in the Santa Rosa Plain, in between the warmer Westside Road region and the cooler Green Valley,where warm summer days are moderated by cool breezes and chilly evening temperatures. The combination of low temperatures, regular fog intrusion and well drained loam, clay soils create an excellent environment for growing Chardonnay that develop cool-climate characteristics and impeccable acid at fairly low sugars.The wines from this vineyard simultaneously express power and finesse, and they do so with tremendous balance.