Gary Farrell Winery
Russian River Selection Pinot Noir 2022
Russian River Valley, California
The approach to this cuvee is decidedly different. Most all wineries focus on their single vineyard wines, using their oldest vines and best barrels. Anything that doesn’t make the cut gets blended, without intent, and sold at a lower price.
Gary Farrell creates the blend first. Vineyards are fermented separately, creating honest and transparent expressions of each prized terroir. The winery then endeavors to make the most complete, complex, and delicious blend possible. To achieve this harmony, some components are not fully employed. Those spectacular outliers are then bottled as single vineyard wines.
Every bottle is comprised of the literal best vineyards in Sonoma. You won’t find another wine with this integrity and pedigree.
VINEYARD
Rochioli and Bacigalupi, in the Middle Reach subdivision, feature foggy mornings, sunny days, and cool nights – the perfect balance. Toboni and Nonella, in the Santa Rosa Plain, add gravitas. Hallberg and Dutton, in Green Valley, the coolest of all, add sublime complexity from long hang times. A beautiful expression of the appellation’s unique terroir, this wine captures the richness, purity and elegance that are Gary Farrell Winery’s trademarks.
WINEMAKING
After a careful hand sorting, the fruit was gently de-stemmed into open-top tanks; a small percentage was added later as whole clusters. The juice cold soaks 4-7 days to fix color. Punch downs are minimal, prizing elegance over extraction. There is a brief post-fermentation maceration where tannins soften and develop complexity. The wine was gently pressed off the skins and seeds, and racked into French barrique (40% new) for 10 months of barrel aging on primary lees.
VINTAGE
The 2022 winter was cold and dry. Followed by a warm and sunny spring. An unexpected heat spike in the summer led to perfect ripeness and concentration.
TASTING NOTE
Seductive aromas of cherry liquor, tobacco, fennel, and rose petal. The youthful and complex palate offers juicy blood orange, cherry jam, tamarind, and raspberry. The plush tannins create a full-bodied texture, lending to the long, spicy finish.
FOOD PAIRING
Bold enough to handle formidable dishes of birds, game, and meats, even those with ambitious spices. Yet refined and deft with richer seafoods.
Color
Red
Blend %
100% Pinot Noir
Appellation
Russian River Valley, California
Certifications
CA Certified Sustainable
Alcohol
13.7%
Suggested Retail Price
$52.99
Reviews
Trade Materials
Videos
2018 Gary Farrell Winery Russian River Selection Pinot Noir
February 19, 2021 - Estate Sommelier Tiffany Kuhn and Winemaker Teresa Heredia discuss the 2018 Russian River Selection Pinot Noir.
Other Wines by this Producer
Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
Sonoma Coast, California
The Gary Farrell Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir is a wine as evocative as the awe-inspiring region from which it comes. It is a billet-doux to where Sonoma meets the Pacific. With underlying aromas of cranberry, tart cherry, and anise, the palate unfolds with silky precision. It shines with bright berry notes, brisk acidity, and fine tannins, flowing into a lingering, elegant finish.
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.
