2017 Pinot Noir Accolades
93 Points - Wine Spectator
Suave, with a delicate mix of vibrant cherry, currant and huckleberry flavors that are backed by crunchy acidity. Shows minerally richness on the fine-textured finish. Drink now through 2025.
93 Points - Wine & Spirits
Initially cardamom-spicy, this wine's bright berry flavors leave quickly, begging the question, Will it open? A day later, the wine answers with a resounding Yes, lengthening out in a rash of strawberries and sandstone abrasion. It's a naked evocation of Fort Ross' coastal ridges, a pleasure to decant for grilled seafood. (627 cases). - Joshua Greene
92 Points - Wine Advocate
Scented of cranberries and red and black cherries with charcuterie, dusty earth and woodsmoke, the 2017 Pinot Noir Estate Fort Ross Vineyard has a light to medium-bodied palate with a good interplay of fruit, earth and meaty nuance. It has a grainy, fresh frame and finishes long.
92 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
Lots of red currants, mulled cherries, and spicy, dried herb-like notes emerge from the 2017 Pinot Noir Fort Ross Vineyard, a medium-bodied, elegant Pinot Noir with ripe tannins and terrific overall balance. It shows the more savory, concentrated style of the vintage and is an outstanding, complex 2017 to enjoy over the coming 7-8 years or so.
92 Points - Wine Enthusiast
Robustly built and yet elegant throughout, this estate-grown wine is forested with black-tea notes that meld against a foundation of bright red berry. Ample tannin structure evolves in the glass to show a nice supple quality and flecks of crushed rock and mineral.
92 Points - James Suckling
Super perfumed and complex, this has such richly spiced red-cherry aromas with a gently earthy edge, too. The palate holds a taut core of fine tannin that sweeps up plenty of ripe red-cherry flavor. Drink or hold. September 2019.