Brooks Note Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 2023
91 Points! A medium red color, the 2023 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley offers an elegant perfume and spiced profile with aromas of red cherries, roses, forest herbs, and mossy earth. It’s a very pretty and elegant red with a refined texture and an even, floating feel through the finish. It’s a very attractive wine to enjoy now or over the next 4-6 years. - Audrey Frick, jebdunnuck.com
From the winery: Our 2023 Russian River Pinot Noir is a beautifully complex expression of this renowned region, blending fruit from four distinct vineyards to create a wine of depth, elegance, and balance. Bommersbach Vineyard (29%) lends rich cherry cola notes, while Bode Vineyard (38%) provides a silky, seamless texture. The cooler Rogaway Vineyard (14%) in the Sebastopol Hills and Monroe Vineyard (19%) south of Sebastopol contribute vibrant floral and spice notes, with Monroe’s sandy Goldridge soils intensifying the wine’s structure and acidity. Aged in 24% new oak with 15% whole cluster fermentation, this 225-case production Pinot Noir (13.9% ABV) is a harmonious blend of power and finesse, showcasing the best of Russian River Valley terroir.
Garry Brooks and his wife Joanne planted a small vineyard in Sonoma in 2002. At the time, both Garry and Joanne were working in Technology. As the vines grew, it became clear (first to Joanne) that Garry’s passion was with the grapes, rather than with IT. In 2004, after serious soul searching, Garry left the safe and lucrative world of Technology to pursue his dream of making wine.
He started as an intern in the lab at Ravenswood. His first harvest was an eye opener. Long hours, physical work, and coming home exhausted late at night. Garry was hooked. He stayed on at Ravenswood part time while he went back to school, eventually getting a bachelor’s degree in Viticulture and Enology from UC Davis.
While commuting to UC Davis, Garry continued to work at Ravenswood making mostly Zinfandel, but also Cabernet, Merlot, Petite Syrah, Grenache and Syrah. He knew he wanted to make Pinot Noir, and was looking for the right opportunity. He got to make his first Pinot at Acacia during the 2007 harvest. He was responsible for vineyard sampling. He strapped buckets to his mountain bike and rode through beautiful vineyards in Carneros; stopping periodically to sample clusters along the way.
From Acacia, Garry moved to Kosta Browne. The Associate winemaker, Shane Finely, was a fan of hiring Veterans. Garry’s service in the Navy paid off. He was able to turn a harvest internship into a full time job at Kosta Browne, spending two years working with Shane and Michael Browne. Garry learned the art of crafting small lot Pinots. He worked with incredible vineyards and some of the best vineyard managers in the business. He learned how Michael put his wines together. Garry was part of the team that helped make Kosta Brown’e 2009 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir, Wine Spectator’s “Wine of the Year” in 2011.
After Kosta Browne, Garry joined Dutton Goldfield as the Assistant Winemaker, working for Dan Goldfield. He worked with great vineyards in the Russian River Valley, but was also introduced to viticulture in Marin. Long a passion for Garry, making wine from grapes in Marin was a dream come true. With Dan, he got to know the unique geography, weather, and vineyards of Marin.
| Color | Red |
|---|---|
| JD Score | 91 |
| Grapes | Pinot Noir |
| Vintages | 2023 |
| Sizes | 750ml |
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