The March 2021 Auction: Part 1
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1 / 2Lot 438
Estimate: $225
1 Very lightly bin soiled label.
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Collection name
Reviews
96WA
"The first vintage from this vineyard, the utterly sensational 694-case 2013 Pinot Noir Bootlegger's Hill was completely destemmed and was brought up in 55% new French oak, with a small part in concrete egg. Offering incredible notes of creme de cassis and black currants, with beautifully integrated oak, it has medium to full-bodied richness, a seamless, layered, ultra-pure texture, fine tannin and a flat out awesome finish. It's certainly one of the superstar Pinot Noirs from California and while it's brilliant today . . . . Run by Michael Browne and focusing on Russian River Valley vineyards, CIRQ was created in 2011 when they released a single Pinot Noir from the Treehouse Vineyard. This higher elevation site is located roughly eight miles from the Pacific, above the fog line, and has unique volcanic and iron-rich soils. This site has been planted to clones 23, Swan, Pommard, Calera and 37. They made their first vintage from the Bootleggerâs Hill Vineyard in 2013. This site sits at a similar elevation to the Treehouse Vineyard, above the fog line, but in a slightly cooler region. The soils are the more classic Goldridge sandy loam soils found throughout the Russian River Valley. This vineyard was planted with clones 115, 667, Pommard, 37, Calera and Elite. The Bootleggerâs Hills release is slightly more perfumed and elegant, whereas the Treehouse Vineyard release is an ever so slightly deeper, richer wine. As I hope the reviews show, these two efforts are at the pinnacle of California Pinot Noir. Readers looking for the next cult winery need to jump on this estateâs mailing list as soon as possible (it might already be too late)."
Region
Red
Country
Score
"The first vintage from this vineyard, the utterly sensational 694-case 2013 Pinot Noir Bootlegger's Hill was completely destemmed and was brought up in 55% new French oak, with a small part in concrete egg. Offering incredible notes of creme de cassis and black currants, with beautifully integrated oak, it has medium to full-bodied richness, a seamless, layered, ultra-pure texture, fine tannin and a flat out awesome finish. It's certainly one of the superstar Pinot Noirs from California and while it's brilliant today . . . . Run by Michael Browne and focusing on Russian River Valley vineyards, CIRQ was created in 2011 when they released a single Pinot Noir from the Treehouse Vineyard. This higher elevation site is located roughly eight miles from the Pacific, above the fog line, and has unique volcanic and iron-rich soils. This site has been planted to clones 23, Swan, Pommard, Calera and 37. They made their first vintage from the Bootleggerâs Hill Vineyard in 2013. This site sits at a similar elevation to the Treehouse Vineyard, above the fog line, but in a slightly cooler region. The soils are the more classic Goldridge sandy loam soils found throughout the Russian River Valley. This vineyard was planted with clones 115, 667, Pommard, 37, Calera and Elite. The Bootleggerâs Hills release is slightly more perfumed and elegant, whereas the Treehouse Vineyard release is an ever so slightly deeper, richer wine. As I hope the reviews show, these two efforts are at the pinnacle of California Pinot Noir. Readers looking for the next cult winery need to jump on this estateâs mailing list as soon as possible (it might already be too late)."
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The fourth-largest wine producer in the world, led by California. American fine wine is defined by ripe, expressive fruit and a spirit of innovation, with Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon among the most sought-after wines globally.
A large, geographically varied California region producing cool-climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay near the coast and richer Zinfandel and Cabernet inland. Its wines range from elegant to bold.
A cool, fog-influenced Sonoma AVA renowned for elegant, complex Pinot Noir and rich, balanced Chardonnay.
A thin-skinned, terroir-sensitive red producing perfumed, silky and elegant wines of red-berry fruit and earthy complexity. It reaches its apogee in Burgundy.