[USA] DuMOL Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 2011

During Chinese New Year’s holidays, I bought 2 bottles of Pinot Noir wine from USA and New Zealand. The greatest Pinot Noir wines are from Burgundy (France), but the New World countries are also trying to make similar style of Burgundy Pinot Noir wine. Pinot Noir requires a cool climate area to grow, it is successfully grown in Oregon and New Zealand. This time, I tasted the one from USA DuMOL Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 2011. DuMOL winery was established in 1996, the name was came from the first winemaker’s children named Duncan and Molly. The owner Kerry Murphy, Michael Verlander and winemaker Andy Smith are big fans of Burgundy wine. In order to emulate Burgundy Pinot Noir perfumed style, the winery settled in California Sonoma, the most famous wine region Russian River Valley. The cool, foggy and maritime climate is very suitable for Pinot Noir growing. However, they tend to be low profile winery and there is not much public exposure. But on 2011 White House State Dinner, DuMOL Chardonnay Russian River Valley 2008 was selected for dinner wine.

DuMOL produces single vineyard wine and blending vineyards wine. This Pinot Noir Russian River Valley is a blending vineyards wine from 9 different vineyards in RRV. For Vintage 2011, they believe blending wine can achieve heightened complexity, low yield and provide excellent concentration. The grapes are hand harvested and crushed, and goes to malolactic fermentations. Then the wine are aged for 11 months in 35% new French barrels and settled 3 months in tank. Before bottling, the wine has no filtering, it help the wine to keep developing in the bottle. Wine critic Robert Parker rates this wine as 90 points which is outstanding wine.

My Taste note : It shows beautiful Dark Ruby colour. Before tasting, the wine has decanted for 1 hour. The aromas included Ripe Red Fruit, Cherry, Leather, Spicer, Licorice and Herbs. The palate is Dry, Light to Medium Body and light acid like cherry and strawberry. It has silky tannins, very smooth and pleasant. After taste brings out red fruit flavor and smooth tannins that can last to the end. Overall, this wine provides complex aromas, nice structured and enjoyable mouthfeel. The price for this wine is acceptable for New World wine. Sometime, Burgundy wines are not ready to drink or too expensive, at this price and quality, DuMOL RRV is very worth to try out.

在新年假期間, 我買了兩枝來自美國和紐西蘭的Pinot Noir(黑皮諾)紅酒. 當然最好的Pinot Noir紅酒是來自法國的勃根地, 但是新世界的地區嘗試釀造跟勃根地差不多風格的Pinot Noir紅酒. Pinot Noir 葡萄需要在涼爽氣候的地區生長. 它成功地在Oregon(奧勒岡州)和紐西蘭成長. 這次我先品嚐來自美國的DuMOL Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 2011. DuMOL 酒莊在1996年創立, 它的名字是來自第一個釀酒師的子女名字 Duncan 和 Molly. 莊主Kerry Murphy, Michael Verlander 和釀酒師Andy Smith都是勃根地葡萄酒的愛好者. 為了釀造出帶有勃根地Pinot Noir的芬香, 酒莊設置在加州Sonoma(索諾瑪)內的一個出名釀酒區Russian River Valley (俄羅斯河谷). 這裡是海洋性氣候,清涼和大霧,很適合Pinot Noir的生長.他們都是一個比較低調酒莊,盡量都不會在公開活動暴光. 但是在2011年的白宮國宴上, 他們的DuMOL Chardonnay Russian River Valley 2008被選為餐酒.

DuMOL有生產單一葡萄園和混合不同葡萄園的葡萄酒. 這款Pinot Noir Russian River Valley是混合了9個來自RRV不同葡萄園的酒. 2011年他們相信混合不同葡萄酒可以獲得提高葡萄酒的複雜性,低產量和非常好的濃度.葡萄是人手採摘, 壓碎之後進行乳酸發酵.之後在35%新法國木桶內熟成11個月後再在別的酒桶內3個月安定下來.裝瓶之前葡萄酒是不會進行過濾,這樣可以幫助葡萄酒在瓶內繼續發展.這款酒獲葡萄酒評論家Robert Parker評分為90分, 是代表Outstanding的酒.

我的品酒筆記: 這款酒有漂亮的深紅寶石色.在品嘗之前,葡萄酒在醒酒器內1小時.香氣包括有成熟的紅色水果,車厘子,士多啤利,皮革,一些香料,甘草和草藥氣味.口感是乾身,中等酒身和輕輕的酸好像車厘子和士多啤利.它有絲綢般柔滑的單寧,感覺非常和藹. After Taste帶出紅色水果味道和平滑的單寧可以維持到最後.整體這款酒提供複雜的香氣,有良好結構和很享受酒在口內哪種感覺.這款酒的價錢是可以接受,有時勃根地的酒還沒到時候飲或太貴, DoMOL RRV這個價錢有這種質素的酒是很值得一試.