2020 Jentoft Vineyard Ryan Pinot Noir
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Tasting notes
Ryan is a sub-cuvée. The vines are leased from Duttons with their crew doing the farming as a partnership. Steep, south-west-facing vineyard at 300 m surrounded by redwoods and shared with Steve Kistler’s Occidental, who sell their wine as Freestone-Occidental. It may be in the Russian River Valley AVA but it receives lots of coastal influence, maintains winemaker Andy Smith. Planted with the Calera clone in 2007 on very shallow soils with sandstone within 1 m of the surface. Sandstone holds water well. It usually needs irrigation just twice, in late July and early August. This was picked just before the mega 2020 fire effects. Quite a deep garnet. Lots of edginess and light bitterness. Really fresh. Not much grunt and depth, but very fresh. (JR)
Critic scores
Average Score
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
The 2020 Pinot Noir Dutton-Jentoft is packed with medicinal herbs, forested earth, and red plum. The palate is tangy and full of tension, with cranberry and rocky earth. With its driven acidity, this is a wine that commands to have food at the table. Drink 2024-2039.
The 2020 Pinot Noir Ryan Jentoft Vineyard has a medium ruby color and dynamic, spicy accents—cardamom, violet, conifer and licorice—to complement a deep core of pomegranate and rhubarb. The medium-bodied palate is concentrated, layered and ultra spicy, with a long, very fragrant finish.
The 2020 Pinot Noir Ryan Dutton-Jentoft Vineyard is a standout. It possesses terrific richness and vibrancy, all in a forward, yet mid-weight style that is hugely appealing. Sweet dark cherry, plum, lavender, mint and cinnamon meld together effortlessly. The purity of the flavors is really quite striking.