Porter Creek Fiona Hill Pinot Noir 2018
-
Wilfred
Wong
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
This is their flag ship Pinot Noir which comes from the steep hillside vineyard situated along Westside Road at the entrance of Porter Creek, which has ideal southern face. Hard clay top soil with a fractured stone bedrock place continual stress on these vines, resulting in a very expressive, unique vineyard designate wine. The nose has aromas of wild berries and forest floor, a weighty mid-palate, and long silky finish.
Professional Ratings
-
Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2018 Porter Creek Fiona Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir is one of the best efforts from the Russian River Valley. TASTING NOTES: This wine shines with aromas and flavors of tangy, red fruit, mineral notes, and dried earth. Pair it with a well-spiced, oven-baked Porchetta. (Tasted: September 6, 2022, San Francisco, CA)
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.