Summer 2006 Releases: DuMOL

 

"... DuMOL is one of the hottest labels going these days in California--with excellent Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Syrah ..." Wine Spectator

 

We are very excited about the new releases (2004 vintage) --- perhaps the finest "Russian River" wines DuMOL has yet produced.  Their continual fine-tuning of both vineyard sources and viticultural management came up big for them this vintage ---  a generally cool year --- giving optimal conditions for both chardonnay and pinot noir.  According to winemaker Andy Smith: "The old vine Wente-clone chardonnay in 2004 produced it's most intense fruit to date, with elevated acidity levels, showing classic cool climate tension and precession.  The pinot noir experienced undoubtedly the greatest growing conditions we've had in ten years!  The syrah is incredibly concentrated without any sense of heaviness..."  Our barrel tastings with Andy last year confirmed his excitement.

Since their first harvest in 1996, DuMOL has sourced from a core group of mature vineyards farmed by Dutton Ranch and the Hanna Family. To these, they have progressively added and developed a number of other prime sources, specifically: Hyde (Sonoma Coast), Charles Heintz, Sapphire Hill, Ritchie and their “estate” Sundawg Ridge Vineyard.

 

Summer 2006 Releases:

#6690   Chardonnay "Russian River" '04 12/750  $510.00 $42.50  

Piercing aromas of flint, minerals and ripe citrus blend with a subtle edge of hazelnut.  Immediate intensity of wet-stone minerality and citrus-oil leads to great richness on the palate. Has that "tension" we seek in white Burgundies.  Great purity of fruit with an incredibly long finish.  Barrel aged sur lie for 18 months in (45% new) French oak.  Bottled unfiltered.  2,910 cases produced.

 

#6692 Pinot Noir “Russian River” ‘04 12/750 $624.00 $52.00

The wine exhibits a deep ruby/purple color, an intensely aromatic nose of black cherry, violets, fresh herbs and spicy red licorice. The palate shows great purity of black raspberry fruit and fine minerals.  Andy thinks this may be his “most ageworthy RR pinot ever.”  A 6-vineyard blend from: Dutton Ranch(es), Hanna, Hyde Sonoma Station and Sundawg Ridge.  The clusters were the “smallest, most uniformed looking berries” Andy’s ever worked with, creating yields of 2.5 tons per acre.  Fermented with 100% native yeast.  Aged 14 months in (40% new) French oak.  Bottled unfiltered.  2,450 cases produced.

 

#6691 Syrah “Russian River” ‘04 12/750 $564.00 $47.00

The 2003 was a tough act to follow!  The 2004 should be a worthy successor.  A 5-vineyard blend, predominantly featuring Saralee’s Trenton Station: a series of steep, low-vigor hillside blocks with incredibly shallow soils giving the wine a dynamic intensity.  Their own Dry Stack Vineyard, planted to their favorite Northern Rhone clone, adds remarkable European flavors of smoked meat, earth and violets.  This wine is dense, rich and powerful!  100% native yeast fermentation.  Aged 18 months in (40% new) French oak.  Bottled unfined and unfiltered.  1,650 cases produced.