“Bright yellow; not yet gold. Aromas of pear, orange zest and mirabelle, plus a whiff of banana. A very ripe but very dry wine, with its peach, pear and smoky mineral flavors a bit dulled by alcoholic warmth; not showing the penetrating quality it displayed upon release. Today I prefer the 2008 Hyde for its saline minerality and better acidity, although I should note that both of these wines were acidified. Not my favorite vintage here: I’d drink this wine over the next few years.”

–90 pts, Stephen Tanzer, vinous, July 2017

Situated directly in the center of the Russian River appellation, our block of Kent Ritchie’s vineyard was planted in 1972 to the old Wente selection. Widely spaced—the fashion at the time—these old vines with their gnarly trunks produce tiny quantities of grapes per vine. The benchland soil is pure Goldridge Loam, common to great vineyards in this part of the Russian River Valley.