California, Red Wines, Wine ReviewsMay 18, 2020<May 9, 2020

2016 Gary Farrell Pinot Noir Hallberg Vineyard Russian River Valley

by Meg Maker

Concentrated, spicy Russian River Pinot

Fruit for this bottling hails from the 100-acre Hallberg Vineyard, in the Green Valley sub-appellation of the Russian River Valley. It was harvested cool and hand sorted, then 80 percent of the fruit was de-stemmed and put into open-top fermenters, with the remainder added later as whole clusters. The wine aged in French oak, 40 percent new, for 15 months.

The robe is deep velvet red, darker and more opaque than the Russian River Selection Pinot Noir, with more extract and power. Aromatically it’s darker, with noticeable barrel influence, although the fragrance of fruits and flowers carries the day. There’s a sense of rhubarb, red cherry, and raspberry dusted something like sandalwood and juniper. The wine has good weight, with a core of dark berry fruit reverberant with spice. The tannins are well-integrated with the acidity, and the finish refreshes.