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2008 Pinot Noir Floodgate Vineyard Block 15 Russian River Valley

Wine Details
Place of Origin

United States

Sonoma

Color

Red

Grape/Blend

Pinot Noir

Vintages
2011200920082007
Reviews & Tasting Notes

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Chris Donatiello, who was formerly a sales honcho with the massive wine distributor Charmer Industries, moved to Healdsburg to overhaul the former Belvedere Winery. Two thousand six was the first vintage under the new regime, which includes winemaker Web Marquez of Anthill Farms. The focus is on pinot noir and chardonnay made in small (sometimes very small) lots from single vineyards in the RussianRiverValley, and winemaking is in the back-to-the-future school of basket presses, open-top fermenters, gravity flow and small tanks. Despite the obvious Anthill Farms connection, these wines are richer and weightier in style, with darker fruit character and more apparent structure. Donatiello told me that 2008 reminds him of 2006 in the RussianRiverValley as it produced pinots "that are very approachable on release. In contrast," he added, "the 2007s will be really slow to develop and need some time to loosen their structure. He added that his winery bottled '08s "a little earlier than usual to capture the fruit."