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Benchmark Appellation Expressions from a Russian River All-Star - 08/16/2023 - Pinot Noir (domestic)

Standout Expressions from a Russian River Standard-Bearer
2021 DuMOL "Wester Reach" Russian River Valley Chardonnay ($64.95)
"DuMOL's Wester Reach bottlings, which combine mostly estate-grown fruit with other long-term contracts, are every bit as good as most top single-vineyard wines in the region." — Ryan Woodhouse, K&L Domestic Buyer
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2020 DuMol "Wester Reach" Russian River Valley Pinot Noir ($74.99)
"...this is an impressive wine in its youth that will only get better." — Wine Enthusiast

DuMOL's Andy Smith has been setting the standard in Russian River for decades, not only with his incredible single-vineyard bottlings, but also with his expertly crafted appellation blends. Now under the moniker Wester Reach, the Russian River Valley AVA Pinot and Chardonnay are perennial reference points for how the region performed in a given vintage. The 2020 Pinot Noir and 2021 Chardonnay continue this trend in spades, while giving many single-vineyard expressions a real run for their money.

Vintage Item Name Score Retail Link
2021 DuMOL "Wester Reach" Russian River Valley Chardonnay 94 $64.95 View
2020 DuMol "Wester Reach" Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 96 $74.99 View
DuMOL

2021 DuMOL

2021 DuMOL "Wester Reach" Russian River Valley Chardonnay ($64.95)

94 points James Suckling: "A structured and layered white with apple, light honey and acacia aromas and flavors. Medium to full body. Creamy mouthfeel. Phenolic texture that runs through the wine. Flavorful yet subtle finish. Touch of flint and cedar. Drink or hold." (04/2023)

90-92 points Vinous: "The 2021 Chardonnay Wester Reach is bright and nicely focused. Lemon peel, white flowers, chalk and white pepper all lend tons of nuance. Vineyard sites are Flax, Cornerstone, Heintz, Lorenzo and El Diablo. There's terrific energy and focus here. (AG)" (01/2023)

Ryan Woodhouse | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: August 15, 2023

Each year the new set of releases from DuMOL are highly anticipated. This winery has such extensive estate holdings across the Russian River and Sonoma Coast these wines are often a litmus test for how the vintage was expressed in the region. In recent years the fruit sources and attention to detail for the appellation wines at DuMOL have become even more focused and meticulous. At this point DuMOL's Wester Reach bottlings, that combine mostly estate grown fruit with other long-term contracts, are every bit as good as most people's top single vineyard wines in the region. Winemaker / Owner Andy Smith is one of the most talented winemakers of a generation and his work at DuMOL over the past few decades has elevated their wines into the very upper echelons of "new world" Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The 2021 Wester Reach is in large part from their own Flax Estate Vineyard. Layer in old vine Lorenzo Vineyard fruit with additional components from Charles Heintz and El Diablo and you've got a serious bottle of Chardonnay. Andy always does a fantastic job of balancing power and precision. There's plenty of ripe fruit and density here but also racy acid and minerality that runs long into the finish. White blossom, flint, seashell, baked apple, lemon curd, salted pretzel, wet sand mineral. Top quality as always, a benchmark California Chardonnay.

 2021 DuMol

2021 DuMol "Wester Reach" Russian River Valley Pinot Noir ($74.95)

95 points James Suckling: "A wine with a lot of back end, with dark fruits of blackberry and cherry. Ripe strawberry. Hints of toasted oak and smoke. Its full and layered with very firm and polished tannins. Very serious and real, and shows the structure of the vintage. Some chocolate. Strawberry pie, too." (04/2023)

90-92 points Vinous: "The 2021 Pinot Noir Wester Reach is fabulous. Bright and explosive, the Wester Reach is a fabulous introduction to the vintage at DuMOL. Red/purplish fruit, lavender, rose petal and kirsch are all pushed forward. This vibrant Russian River Pinot Noir is a total knock out. (AG)" (08/2023)

Ryan Woodhouse | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: August 15, 2023

Each year the new set of releases from DuMOL are highly anticipated. This winery has such extensive estate holdings across the Russian River and Sonoma Coast these wines are often a litmus test for how the vintage was expressed in the region. In recent years the fruit sources and attention to detail for the appellation wines at DuMOL have become even more focused and meticulous. At this point DuMOL's Wester Reach bottlings, that combine mostly estate grown fruit with other long-term contracts, are every bit as good as most people's top single vineyard wines in the region. Winemaker / Owner Andy Smith is one of the most talented winemakers of a generation and his work at DuMOL over the past few decades has elevated their wines into the very upper echelons of "new world" Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The 2021 DuMOL Wester Reach Pinot Noir is 56% estate grown. The remainder of the fruit is from top quality sources that DuMOL have "planted, farmed and harvested for the past 20-years". This bottling pulls together volcanic hillsides, sandy Goldridge and deep clay soils. It's a true cross-section of the best of Russian River. At a recent staff tasting this wine really held its own against some serious competition. The combination of powerful dark fruit, toasted spices, floral notes, wild bramble elements, and rich earthy tones is very compelling and every element is expertly integrated and balanced. These wines never fail to leave a lasting impression o