Director's Cut 2016 Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Francis Ford Coppola

With his Director's Cut series of wines Francis Ford Coppola focuses on the elite sub-regions of Sonoma County. For Pinot Noir there's no better location than Russian River Valley. The Russian River Valley climate is defined by a regular intrusion of cooling fog from the Pacific Ocean a few miles to the west. Much like the tide, the fog ebbs and flows, arriving each evening, cooling the area down from its daytime temperatures by as much as 35 to 40 degrees. This natural air conditioning provides for an extended growing season where the Pinot Noir grapes mature slowly for optimal development and maintain a good level of natural acidity. Meanwhile, the Valley's loam and alluvial soil compositions help create rich and fragrant Pinot Noir that offers pronounced floral notes and a distinct earthy character. Grapes were fermented in open-top fermenters where they punched the cap down several times a day for added extraction. When fermentation was complete, the wine was placed in French oak barrels for 7 and a half months, 40% new, 60% 1–2 year old. This was a 94 point Platinum Award Winner at the 2018 Critics Challenge Competition and Wine Review Online scored 93 points saying "A big, oak spice driven expression of Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, with bold black cherry fruit, damp earth and fall spice aromas and flavors. Decant this wine well before serving it with something from the red meat side of the menu."