DuMOL DuMOL Wester Reach Pinot Noir 2023 750ml

A wine with a lot of back end, with dark fruits of blackberry and cherry. Ripe strawberry. Hints of toasted oak and smoke. It’s full and layered with very firm and polished tannins. Very serious and real, and shows the structure of the vintage. Some chocolate. Strawberry pie, too. Drinkable but two to three years of age will help it. (James Suckling)

A classic, distinctive and compelling red. So leafy, floral and tea-like in aromas, then fresh, concentrated and generous on the palate, offering red cherries, sour cherries, black tea, bay leaves and blueberries backed by vibrant acidity and light tannins. Drink now or hold.

Taking on a darker ruby hue, the 2022 Pinot Noir Wester Reach brings forward woodsy spice aromas, with notes of fresh cherries, pine, and peppery spices. Approachable on the palate, it offers ripe tannins, a supple texture, and a nice lift of freshness on the finish. It is a charmer for sure and is going to offer a wide drinking window over the coming 10-12 years. Bottled unfiltered, 4500 cases were produced.

What will you love about this wine? Maybe it's the nose that screams with Bing cherry, black tea and cola aromas. Maybe it's the powerful palate brimming with flavors of macerated raspberry, rose petal and sarsaparilla. Or the rich, plush tannins balanced by laser-like tangerine acid, with a minute-long finish that evolves and swirls. Maybe it's all of the above.

This is succulent and almost bouncy in feel, with perky acidity driving the core of gently mulled cherry, raspberry and boysenberry fruit. Shows a dusting of red tea and sandalwood on the finish, where the structure holds sway at this early stage. Cellar for maximum effect. Best from 2025 through 2036. 4,450 cases made.

The 2023 Pinot Noir Wester Reach boasts a bright red hue and opens with a spicy, fresh nose that carries a cool-climate edge. Ripe cranberries, lifted spices, fresh roses, and piney herbs lead the aromatics, and it’s medium-bodied and compact on the palate, with a refreshing line of acidity, fine tannins, and a weightless texture. The finish is long and laced with elegant spice. Drink 2025-2037.

Lively aromas of green pear, toasted hazelnut and apple blossom waft from the glass on the nose of this Chardonnay, while the palate brings plush texture, zippy acid and flavors of Meyer lemon, pineapple, sage, nectarine and shattered shells before a long and elegant finish.

Bursts with juicy raspberry, mulberry and bitter cherry coulis flavors that stretch out lengthily, plus savory, red tea and rose petal notes that add energy and range. Shows a snap of red licorice and a singed apple wood frame on the finish while keeping its energy up. Best from 2026 through 2036. 4,900 cases made.

The 2023 Pinot Noir Wester Reach is blended from several vineyards, including Dumol Estate, Flax, Occidental Road and Dutton. Grapes were harvested September 22 through October 10, and the wine was matured for 15 months in 28% new French oak. It bursts from the glass with intense aromas of cranberry sauce, pomegranate, orange peel, black tea leaves and conifer. The full-bodied palate features concentrated, nuanced flavors although its silky tannins and vibrant acidity give it a weightless feel, and it has a very long, layered finish. 4,900 cases were made.

The 2023 Pinot Noir Wester Reach is soft, fruity and easygoing, all of which make it a fine choice for drinking now and over the next handful of years or more. Soft contours wrap around a core of red/purplish fruit, sweet spice and flowers. There's lovely immediacy and succulence here. Bright acids pull it all together. Delicious.

The 2022 Pinot Noir Wester Reach comes from several vineyards including Dumol Estate, Occidental Road, Dutton Ranch, Flax Estate and Placida. Grapes were harvested on August 15 and later on September 8, after the Labor Day heat wave set in. "About 15% of this wine was picked after the heat," winegrower Andy Smith says candidly. "That's that flush of riper fruit." Fermented with about 15% whole clusters, it has soft scents of strawberries, raspberries, rose petals and bitters. The medium-bodied palate is immediately approachable with its plush, spicy layers, and it has a long, perfumed finish. 4,450 cases were made.

Plump and juicy, with a forthright mix of raspberry and boysenberry compote flavors fueled by light hibiscus, licorice and rose petal details through the finish. Drink now through 2026. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 3,000 cases made. (James Molesworth)

The 2021 Pinot Noir Wester Reach is fabulous. Bright and explosive, the Wester Reach is a fabulous introduction to the vintage at DuMOL. Red/purplish fruit, lavender, rose petal and kirsch are all pushed forward. This vibrant Russian River Pinot Noir is a total knock out.