2009 Drew Family Cellars Pinot Noir Valenti Ranch

Community Tasting Notes (12) Avg Score: 91.3 points

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View bdhanna's profile
  • Report Issue

  2/11/2022 - bdhanna Likes this wine: 92 Points

  At peak and still delicious !! I agree with my tasting note of one year ago !!
  Perfect cork after over a decade in the bottle, easily removed. Dark ruby colored with little to no oxidation and medium clarity. Consumed over two days. A very balanced Pinot Noir with a nice long finish. Made of clones: Rochioli, 667, and 115. This Valienti Ranch is located on the top of Greenwood Ridge, 6 miles from the ocean at 1,400 feet above sea level. It is a challenging site with daily maritime winds resulting in very cool temperatures throughout the growing season. The marginally fertile topsoil overlays a deep profile of sandstone and shale which roots can penetrate deeply to take up water and minerals enabling dry farming. Daytime temperatures are typically 7 to 10 degrees cooler than the Anderson Valley floor. Yields are very low. This was the last bottle of the vintage in my cellar.

  1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View bdhanna's profile
  • Report Issue

  2/6/2021 - bdhanna Likes this wine: 91 Points

  This wine is tasting really good right now !!
  The cork was nearly perfect after over a decade in the bottle. This is a balanced Pinot Noir that I consumed over two days. Deep ruby color with no oxidation, clarity medium. Aromas of pomegranate and rose hips, flavors of sweetened cranberry, red fruit compote, rhubarb, and marine soil with a pleasant medium to long finish. Popped and poured, this wine really benefited from gentle oxygen since it was much more soft and integrated on day two. This age worthy wine is a balanced and flavorful Pinot Noir that has more years of life left. A great fruit source from Valenti Ranch in the Mendocino Ridge AVA and a great winemaking effort from Jason Drew. I still have one bottle of this vintage remaining; I may open it in the next few months or so to verify my rating.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View df1962's profile
  • Report Issue

  3/17/2015 - df1962 Likes this wine: 92 Points

  By the glass at Sansei Waikiki. Very dark garnet with violet rim (looked like the Anthill Farms Syrah I had before this glass). Light(+) weight in the Pinot Noir scene of things with silky tannins. Earthy cherry black tea and cinnamon aromas. Black cherry touch of blueberry and baking spices on the palate. Long fresh red fruit finish big sleek and delicious.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View soyhead's profile
  • Report Issue

  11/26/2013 - soyhead wrote:

  a relatively speaking big pinot, with impressive structure, would benefit from several more years in the bottle

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment

• Options

  • Post a Comment
  • View Steve Brickley's profile
  • Report Issue

  10/13/2013 - Steve Brickley Likes this wine: 91 Points

  My previous notes remain relevant. This is drinking well now and should continue 2013-2016 at least.

  Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment

View all 12 Community Tasting Notes

Professional reviews have copyrights and you can view them here for your personal use only as private content. To view pro reviews you must either subscribe to a pre-integrated publication or manually enter reviews below. Learn more.