Savannah-Chanelle Vineyards

It’s always fun to do blends, and this wine displays the fun Tony probably had making it, From two different vineyards in the Green Valley area of the Russian River Valley, (most likely one being the Tina Marie Vineyard, which is one of Savannah-Chanelle’s vineyard designates), this wine also has some fruit from Tony’s other north coast vineyard label, Armagh Vineyard from Sonoma Coast.

While vineyard designates tend to have the sharp-edged personality of, say, the pre-Revolutionary War Thomas Paine papers (“Common Sense”), blends, on the other hand, tend to combine the genius of several constituents, like Franklin, Adams, and Jefferson to produce something more like the Declaration of Independence. Being a Brit, I knew Tony would appreciate this analogy. (Or not.)

Although subsumed for all intents into the Russian River AVA, the Green Valley is a recognized AVA in its own right, and is colder than the rest of the Russian River area due to the maritime air influence. Both the Russian River to the north and the Petaluma Wind Gap to the South provide conduits of cold air into the Green Valley.

What all this means for this particular Pinot is that in spite of the warm year, this wine retained its respect, and offers a good modicum of berry fruit along with some elderberry flavors and a touch of earthiness, complemented by a delicate, but obvious, core of acidity. It is a clothesline hung with sheets and towels, perhaps yearning for lingerie instead.

(Alc: 13.5%, Retail: $26)

Reviewed March 28, 2007 by Laura Ness.