2017 Pinot Noir Goldridge

There is a lot to like in this set of new and upcoming releases from Eva and Carmen Dehlinger. The 2017 Pinots are racy, open-knit wines that will drink well pretty much upon release, while the 2017 Syrahs and the Cabernet may need some bottle age to be at their very best, but also show all of the natural intensity of the vintage. In keeping with the style of the year, I find a bit more nuance and delineation in the 2018 Pinots, the best of which are shaping up to be magnificent. As always, the wines are done in the extroverted, generous style that is so typical of the Russian River. The Pinots see 15-17 months in oak, while the Syrahs see a bit longer, around 22 months, in wood. Best of all, pricing remains incredibly fair. Dehlinger fans will also want to check out the new wines from sister label Garbro Ranch (reviewed here separately), which are made from a neighboring property the Dehlingers purchased in 2017.

I was deeply impressed with the wines I tasted with Eva and Carmen Dehlinger this year. The 2016 Pinots are just as compelling as they were last year, even if I am not sure the wines are all so distinctive as to merit the number of Pinots Dehlinger bottles these days. As a Russian River estate, Dehlinger is best known for their Pinots. I hope readers will also consider the Syrahs and the Cabernet, all of which are stunningly beautiful in 2016.