Kanzler Vineyards Pinot Noir 2021
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Wine
Spectator - Vinous
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Winemaker Notes
Composed with a majority (57%) Estate fruit, and a sizable portion (18%) Mes Filles Vineyard, the 2021 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir has a coastal lean to it. Sebastopol Hills, their neighborhood in Russian River Valley, gets the most coastal marine influence in the AVA and the wine shows the hallmarks of this terroir: dark color, structured mouthfeel, and vivid berry fruit backed by an array of warm spices.
This wine will pair well with rich foods and will age in the cellar gracefully for 10+ years.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
Ripe, with deliciously succulent waves of plum, boysenberry and mulberry fruit rolling through, laced with iris and hibiscus notes and ending with light anise and apple wood hints on the finish. Packs a nice finishing kick of fruit at the end, too, while keeping a racy edge.
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Vinous
The 2021 Pinot Noir Kanzler Vineyard is soft, fruity and succulent, all of which make it a fine choice for drinking now and over the next few years. This classic Russian River Pinot Noir offers plenty of exuberance and immediacy. Ripe red cherry/plum fruit, game, blood orange, cinnamon and pomegranate are dialed up nicely.
Other Vintages
2007-
Wine
Spectator
Kanzler Vineyards began in 1996 as the dream of Stephen and Lynda Kanzler. Planted in 1996, in a former apple orchard, near the town of Sebastopol, Kanzler Vineyard quickly developed a reputation for producing world class Pinot Noir fruit, featured in award winning wines from some of the finest wineries in Northern California.
In 2004, the Kanzlers partnered with winemaker Greg Stach, to make wine from grapes grown exclusively from their vineyard. The first estate-bottled wine, Kanzler Vineyards, 2004 Sonoma Coast and 2004 Reserve Sonoma Coast, Pinot Noir were released in July, 2005. That wine garnered rave reviews, receiving a 93 from Wine Spectator, virtually unheard of for a first release. The 2005 and 2006 releases were also highly rated and well received, selling out almost as soon as they were released.
While the Russian River Valley is a large appellation with multiple climate zones and soil types, it is best known for cool-climate varieties, with Pinot Noir as the most celebrated. The grapes benefit from a reliable late afternoon flow of Pacific Ocean fog through the Petaluma Gap and along the Russian River Valley that ensures slow and steady ripening and the preservation of grape acidity. Today many of California’s most highly regarded Pinot Noir vineyards are in the Russian River Valley, along with its sub-appellation, Green Valley.
Historically Russian River Valley Pinot Noirs had bright red fruit and delicate earthy, mineral notes. But changes in viticultural and winemaking practices have led to stylistic changes in some of the region’s wines. Adjustments to canopy management, among other techniques, have resulted in riper fruit and bolder wines as well. These show flavors of black cherry, blackberry, cola, spice and darker, loamy earth tones, accenting traditional Pinot Noir notes of strawberry, raspberry and light cherry.