Sonoma-Cutrer Woodford Reserve Wine Review
Sonoma-Cutrer Russian River Valley Woodford Reserve Barrel Finish, a Pinot Noir Wine Review
This was the most expensive bottle of wine I have ever purchased. Normally, anytime I have tried an expensive wine, I have been let down, so my expectations were actually pretty low. Still, I decided to take a chance on it anyway.
Thankfully, this one did not disappoint.
The Sonoma-Cutrer Russian River Valley Pinot Noir Woodford Reserve Barrel Finish is smooth, rich, and surprisingly easy to enjoy. The Pinot Noir character still comes through clearly, but the Woodford Reserve barrel finish adds a warm, familiar depth that makes this bottle stand out.
It brings forward unmistakable Woodford Reserve notes like vanilla, baking spices, brown sugar, and maple. Those flavors blend nicely with the fruitiness of the Pinot Noir without overpowering it. I could actually taste the notes they boast about, which is not always the case.
This Pinot Noir had a smooth finish, a nice balance of fruit and barrel character, and enough complexity to make the experience feel special without becoming too heavy or overdone.
Was Sonomer-Cutrer Russian River Valley Woodford Reserve Barrel Finish expensive? Yes, for me anyway. Was it good? Absolutely. This is one of those bottles I would open casually on a random weeknight, as well as for a special dinner, celebration, or quiet evening when you want something a little different.
I thought This Was Interesting, From Sonomer-Cutrer, About the Russian River Valley Woodford Reserve Barrel Finish Pinot Noir
Grapes are picked by hand early each morning into small bins and hand-sorted before a gentle de-stemming. During the four-day cold soak and the eight- to twelve-day fermentation, the wine is punched down by hand in small, open-top fermenters. On completion of fermentation the wine is gently basket pressed and gravity racked into the barrels. We aged this Pinot Noir in a regimen of one-third each of new, one-year and two-year old French oak. After maturing for 11 months, the final blend was assembled and then it gets a little crazy! We further aged this blend another four months in freshly emptied Woodford Reserve® Bourbon barrels, one of Kentucky’s premier bourbon distillers. A bold move, but wow – what a result.
This wine has a beautiful, rich ruby-purple hue. As a classic Russian River Pinot Noir, the wine expresses aromas and flavors of lush red and black berry fruit. As you swirl the wine in your glass, you will open up scents of vanilla, baking spices, brown sugar & maple from the Woodford barrels mingling with licorice, dark chocolate, black tea with just a hint of earth. On the palate, you will find the wine to be wonderfully rich and juicy with soft tannins that add to its intensity. Sumptuous black cherry flavors mingle with the balanced acidity to make this deliciously enjoyable and an incredibly unique expression of Pinot Noir.
