August Briggs Pinot Noir 2022, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California

August Briggs Winery is an owner-managed craft producer of small lot and sustainably produced wines showcasing some of Napa and Sonoma’s premier vineyards focused on a restrained winemaking philosophy that highlights wines of provenance, not pretense. The Russian River Valley is now known as one of the premier locations for Pinot Noir on earth, and for good reason. The wines from this appellation consistently show the bright, fruity exuberance of California wine, while displaying some of the haunting nuances of its homeland in Burgundy. The 2022 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir is sourced from our friends the Forchini Family on the northern end of the Russian River Valley. This older block planted in the late 1970’s produces a wine that mirrors the climate in which they are grown, a bit of coastal influence that creates cool temperatures and purity of fruit. Our Russian River Pinot Noir can be our most “Traditional” style pinot noirs with an elegant texture and flavors of bright fruit with pleasant acidity. Medium-bodied, it reveals remarkable purity throughout its fresh, well-balanced layers of orange peel, ripe red cherry, and floral notes that continue long on to a slightly subdued background of earth and leather. It has a nice core of fruit flavors such as ripe cherry and raspberry with a bit of orange spice at the end. A beautiful Pinot that is great tonight but also age worthy. Barrel aging: 9 months in 20% new French oak, 80% 3-year old barrels. 100% Pinot Noir