2014 Dutton Estate Winery Karmen Isabella Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

Our Sonoma Pinot Noir Coup

It’s not often that we get a chance to offer a sumptuous Russian River Valley Pinot Noir for under $30. But thanks to a well-known Bay Area restaurant that couldn’t pay up in time, their allocation is now ours. Packed with wild-berry richness, this bottling speaks eloquently of Dutton Ranch’s Goldridge soils, the cool coastal climate, and the brilliant handiwork of winemaker Terry Adams, a 25-year veteran of Sonoma-Cutrer. This is assuredly one of the best values of the incredible 2014 vintage, which Robert Parker ranked as the best ever for North Coast Pinot Noir. Secure your share of this silken, raspberry-infused marvel now.

After 25 years of ruling the roost at Sonoma-Cutrer, the brilliant winemaker Terry Adams was preparing to call it a day and hang up his pipette. But then a call came in from Tracy and Joe Dutton, the daughter-in-law and son of Terry’s old grape-growing friend, Warren Dutton. When they suggested that Adams postpone his retirement party and join them at Dutton Estate, he paused.  

Warren, who passed away in 2001, had been Sonoma’s most renowned grape grower and a pioneering viticulturist, founding the Dutton Ranch in 1964 in the coolest area of the Russian River Valley AVA. The holdings had expanded over the decades, currently encompassing 1,500 undulating hillside acres, divided into 80 distinct vineyards. Year after year, the fruit grown on the fine sandy loam attracted Sonoma’s world-class winemakers like Steve Kistler and James Hall, who racked up multiple 96- and 95-point wines from Robert Parker employing the Ranch’s exquisite berries.

Now the next generation of Duttons wanted Adams in on the project, employing his wizardly touch with Burgundian varieties, working with a few rows of Manzana Pinot Noir or Dutton Palms Chardonnay, farming just as he wanted. It took him about 20 minutes to decide on “yes.”

His first vintage was 2009. When the historic 2014 growing season rolled around, Adams was even gladder he’d stuck around. Decanter wrote that in California “the real success story in 2014 was Pinot Noir,” declaring that “for Pinot Noir, this is a five-star vintage, potentially the best since 1994,” and calling the wines “deep, supple and site-expressive.” Robert Parker was even more emphatic, finding no precedent for the vintage’s quality in the North Coast — he rated it 94 points, the highest ever for Pinot Noir in the region.

The “Karmen Isabella” cuvée is named after Tracy and Joe’s youngest daughter and employs fruit drawn from four of the estates best sites: Thomas Road, Manzana, Marty’s, and Jewell Block. The long, drawn-out, moderate growing season infused the berries (clones 115 and 828) with deep, dark, intense raspberry concentration, vibrant tart black-cherry juiciness, and silken texture. Typically available only via waitlist or at three-star restaurants, this is a rare shot at a Russian River Valley stunner for an incredible price.

• Fruit Intensity
• Oak Intensity
• Body
• Acidity
• Tannin

• ABV 14.30%
• Enjoy right away
• Drink Up
• % Pinot Noir
• Serving temperature – 60°
• Cork