18 May Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Dutcher Crossing 2018 Pinot Noir, Terra de Promissio Vineyard, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County
A good wine has a sense of place. As I opened a bottle of Pinot Noir this week, I could almost taste the cool wind and fog from the Terra de Promissio Vineyard in the Russian River Valley. Expressing terroir, Terra de Promissio Vineyard is currently the most vineyard designated Pinot Noir in Sonoma County with more than 10 wineries using the vineyard name on the label. One of these wines is the Dutcher Crossing 2018 Pinot Noir, Terra de Promissio Vineyard, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, the Please The Palate wine of the week.
Dutcher Crossing is owned by Debra Mathy who purchased the property in 2007. Dutcher Crossing owns 75 acres of estate-designated vineyards and also sources fruit form renowned vineyards and growers included Terra de Promissio Vineyard.
The Terra de Promissio Vineyard in Sonoma is owned by Charles and Diana Karren. They purchased the 50-acre ranch overlooking the town of Petaluma in 2000 and began planting 33,000 vines in 2002. The first harvest was in 2005. In 2012 and 2013 they planted an additional 18,000 vines for a total of 50 planted acres. The first 32 acres were planted to Dijon Clones 115 and 777. The remaining 18 acres were planted to Clones 943, 97, and Field Blend. Diana Karren describes the Pinot Noir clones like flowers. Putting different clones together is like putting flowers together for an arrangement. Each clone brings something to a blend.
The terroir is idea for Pinot Noir. The Terra de Promissio Vineyard benefits from wind from the Petaluma Gap’s and fog from the Pacific Ocean. The grapes can slowly mature with a long hang time in order to reach optimum ripeness. The vineyard is farmed sustainably and each block is custom farmed for each winemaker.
The Dutcher Crossing 2018 Pinot Noir, Terra de Promissio Vineyard, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County is sourced from the first 32 acres planted and is a blend of Dijon clones 115 and 777. Each clone brings something different to the wine. 115 gives the wine beautiful structure and 777 brings pomegranate and lavender aromatics.
The Dutcher Crossing 2018 Pinot Noir, Terra de Promissio Vineyard, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County is a pretty wine with great texture and tannins. Aromas of wild strawberries, pomegranate, black cherry, dried herbs, black tea, and spice give way to flavors of black cherry, baking spices, and chocolate. This is a muscular yet elegant Pinot Noir with a savory, mouthwatering finish.
The Dutcher Crossing 2018 Pinot Noir, Terra de Promissio Vineyard, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County retails for $53.