Russian River Valley Winegrowers Venerations by Ramey and Davis Bynum (Sonoma Barrel Auction) 2018
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"Venerations" implies a profound respect, in this case referencing the history behind David Ramey and Davis Bynum. But it is also is a play on the words "venerable" and "generations," describing the mentor David Ramey and mentee Greg Morthole, of Davis Bynum Winery.
Ramey honed his skills in Bordeaux, Napa and Sonoma, starting his own label in 1996, and finding truth in winemaking techniques that made delicious wines. His expertise has passed along from mentorto mentee consulting with Morthole for the last nine vintages with Davis Bynum. Though the winemakers enjoy a long relationship, these two wineries have never before collaborated to blend a wine together. This special lot comes from two vineyards — De LaMontanya Home Ranch and Jane's Vineyard — about three and a half miles apart in the central Russian River Valley's Santa Rosa Plain. David Ramey and protégé Greg Morthole enjoy the complexity, richness and ultimate expression of terroir from fermenting the wines with native yeast and native ML bacteria,allowing the wine to settle, and with gentle fining, go to bottle unfiltered.
Upon release, expect a potpourri of complex cherry and plum Russian River fruit to lead to darker expression in the flavors, with black cherry, loam and toasty oak, balanced acidity and lingering dried fruit flavors.
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.