Drink: 2025-2034
VERY LIMITED!
97 Points The Wine Independent
Medium to deep ruby-purple in color, the 2022 Pinot Noir Estate Vineyard comes barreling out with bold notes of fresh blackberries and black cherries opening out to suggestions of anise, garrigue, and lilacs. The medium-bodied palate reveals impactful black berry flavors with wonderfully spicy accents supported by grainy tannins and great tension, finishing long with a minerally lift. This is an all Calera vineyard.
96 Points Jeb Dunnuck
From the estate’s top vineyard, planted with 100% Calera clone in more clay soil, the 2022 Pinot Noir DuMOL Estate Vineyard boasts a ripe ruby color and classic aromas of pure cherries, candied roses, sweet Asian spices, and sweet sap. Medium-bodied, it’s elegant and refined on the palate, with a silky texture, an approachable feel, and a fresh, clean, soft, stony finish. Drink 2024-2036.
96 Points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2022 Pinot Noir Estate Vineyard comes from high-density, Swan and Calera-clone vines planted in 2004. Grapes were harvested on August 15-16, well before the Labor Day heat wave. This has expressive, wild aromas of black and red berries, blood orange, earth, violet and botanicals. The light-bodied palate features concentrated, spicy fruit. Its mouthwatering acidity and powdery tannins give it a sense of weightlessness, and it has a long, detailed finish. 810 cases were made.
95 Points James Suckling
Rather flamboyant, with ripe strawberry and iron notes and iodine undertones. Full and flavorful, yet with framed and polished gorgeous fruit and hints of strawberry tart and pie crust at the end. What you would expect of a top Russian River pinot. Calera clone with a touch of Swan. Drink or hold.
95 Points Vinous
The 2022 Pinot Noir DuMOL Estate Vineyard is laced with black cherry, plum, leather, cloves, rose petals and lavender, which are nicely amplified in this succulent, mid-weight Pinot Noir. Time in the glass brings out the wine's inner sweetness and perfume. Soft contours wrap it all together in style. Pretty floral and mineral notes linger. The DuMOL Estate Pinot is typically a blend of Calera and Swan clones. In 2022, the team opted to use only the Calera section.
Winemaker Notes
Our DuMOL Estate Vineyard is our original high-density vine planting from 2004. It’s organically farmed without irrigation – these vines work hard each season. We make a strict selection for this bottling, one of our flagship wines, so that only three acres of its nine total comprise this bottling; the balance forms the core of Highland Divide. This is the best of the best. The high vine density and exclusively Calera Selection produce a wine with a significant level of both tannin and acidity. This structure is buffered by a deep core of fruit extract, the product of the ripe grape skins themselves, and the essence of the wine. Each vintage can age for many years, and it gradually deepens into a woodsy, truffley, and enveloping wine with grand scale complexity while never relinquishing its inherent brightness.
The wine’s aromas and flavors are akin to black cherry, boysenberry, hibiscus, anise, moss, and juniper. The palate is simultaneously bright yet dark, with mineral drive, violet floral lift, and bay laurel freshness. Tannins and acidity fuse to lengthen these flavors, and the wine finishes with dried herbs and orange zest lift. Great aging potential. Drink between 2025 and 2034 and decant for an hour in its youth to hasten the development.
