January 25, 2012
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DeLoach Vineyards
| Owner(s) | Boisset Family Estates |
| Web site | www.deloachvineyards.com |
| Link to this site |
Boisset American purchased DeLoach out of bankruptcy nearly thirty years after its founding by Cecil DeLoach in 1975, and brought in Greg La Follette to bolster the wines. He has since moved on to concentrate on his own label, Tandem, but will continue as a consultant. Winemakers Brian Maloney and Julia Vazquez have taken over. The future looks bright here as there is serious a commitment to quality. The estate vineyards have been entirely replanted and are now certified organic and converted to biodynamic farming. 2010 will be the first vintage from the new vines.
Boisset has maintained the historic focus on Pinot Noir and Zinfandel while creating new wines at higher tiers - most notably the Vineyard Designate series, which includes Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Zinfandel. Currently there are 24 Vineyard Designate wines. There are 54 growers including vineyards in Green Valley, Sonoma Coast, Occidental and Mendocino Ridge.
Production is 46,582 cases. Several Pinot Noirs are produced: a Russian River Valley and Green Valley appellation blend, the OFS release (previously the winery's top-tier label), and vineyard designates from Maboroshi Vineyard, Masut Vineyard and Sonoma Stage Vineyard.
The wines are sold on the website and at the tasting room which is set on the beautiful winery grounds. Tours are offered Monday through Friday at 11:00 by appointment (707-526-9111). DeLoach will provide a picnic basket and picnic table by reservation in advance. Reserve tastings are also available.
Articles About DeLoach Vineyards
Reviewed Wines
2007 DeLoach Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., $18.50.
·
The nose exhibits aromas of slightly
confected black cherries with floral and herbal notes (“field nose”) and noticeable dark oak. Decent fullness on
the palate with flavors of strawberries and black cherries with a tang on the mildly persistent dry finish. This
will work at the table.
Reviewed May 7, 2009
ARTICLE »
2007 DeLoach Vineyards Green Valley of Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., pH 3.61, 991 cases, $45.
A blend of several vineyards and clones. Grapes are de-stemmed and undergo native fermentation in open top
vats with hand punch downs. Aged 9 months in 25% new French and Hungarian oak
·
Aromas of dark cherries, herbs, oak and mushrooms. Juicy core of black
cherries and cola with an underpinning of oak and a petrol note. Soft tannins with bright citric acidity on the
finish. Decent.
Reviewed July 9, 2009
ARTICLE »
2007 DeLoach Vineyards Maboroshi Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
15.0% alc., pH 3.53, 435 cases, $45. The vineyard name means
“whimsical dream” in Japanese. Farmed by the Kisaichi family and located
southwest of Sebastopol. Soils are Goldridge loam. Aged 12 months in 33% new French oak.
·
Intense aromas of black cherries, raspberries,
herbal oak and cardamon spice. Beautifully composed and gentle in the
mouth with tasty red raspberries and currants, a compelling earthiness,
and a tasty riff of oak. Harmonious with impressive glass-filling presence.
Reviewed July 9, 2009
ARTICLE »
2007 DeLoach Vineyards Masut Vineyard Redwood Valley Pinot Noir
15.0%
alc., 1,000 cases, $45. Clones 113 and 115 were planted in 1996 according to
biodynamic principles and these vines are tended by pioneers of biodynamic
farming, Jacob Fetzer and his family.
·
Well oaked dark fruits on the nose.
Powerfully flavored earth-kissed dark raspberry fruit augmented by plum reduction
sauce, spice and a hint of grapefruit peel on the dry and slightly hot finish.
Reviewed July 9, 2009
ARTICLE »
2005 De Loach Vineyards Russian River Valley OFS Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., $28. This wine is a reserve
level Pinot Noir (OFS stands for “Only Finest Selection”). Open-top oak fermenters are used in
the vinification. These fermenters offer the advantages of advantageous temperature maintenance,
slow and gentle fermentation, and ideal extraction.
·
Very nice cherry and raspberry infused wine which
is elegant, silky and nicely balanced. There are pleasing wood overtones and the lively acid make it a
delicious wine with roast chicken.
Reviewed January 20, 2008
ARTICLE »
2004 De Loach 30th Anniversary Cuvée Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.9% alc., 350 cases, $45 (sold out). This commemorative bottling comes from
the original De Loach estate Pinot Noir vineyard adjacent to the winery planted
in 1977. The vines were removed after the 2004 harvest and replaced with new
plantings farmed biodynamically. The wine was made with 100% whole cluster
fermentation in open top wood fermenters. Aging was in French oak for 10
months.
·
I drank this wine twice this past year several months apart with consistent
notes. It is a medium-bodied Pinot Noir which really needs significant air time to
reveal its charms. Initially the nose is closed. Flavors of herbs, oak, plum and
cranberry lead to a finish which is stemmy, herbal and moderately astringent with a hint of heat. The texture
is smooth and satisfying. I left an opened bottle overnight and re tasted the next day. The nose had
cleaned up significantly with appealing toast and cherries. The overall impression was more mellowness
and the back end astringency had resolved. The finish now featured some lingering spice and a hint of
oak. This wine will benefit from a couple years in the cellar. A decent Pinot with potential, but just not my
cup of tea (pinot). When you consider taste, price and availability, I just don’t see how this wine could
be the Top Wine out of 10,000, let alone the top Pinot Noir.
Reviewed December 18, 2006
ARTICLE »
2007 DeLoach Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., $18.50. · The nose exhibits aromas of slightly confected black cherries with floral and herbal notes (“field nose”) and noticeable dark oak. Decent fullness on the palate with flavors of strawberries and black cherries with a tang on the mildly persistent dry finish. This will work at the table. Reviewed May 7, 2009 ARTICLE »
2007 DeLoach Vineyards Green Valley of Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., pH 3.61, 991 cases, $45. A blend of several vineyards and clones. Grapes are de-stemmed and undergo native fermentation in open top vats with hand punch downs. Aged 9 months in 25% new French and Hungarian oak · Aromas of dark cherries, herbs, oak and mushrooms. Juicy core of black cherries and cola with an underpinning of oak and a petrol note. Soft tannins with bright citric acidity on the finish. Decent. Reviewed July 9, 2009 ARTICLE »
2007 DeLoach Vineyards Maboroshi Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
15.0% alc., pH 3.53, 435 cases, $45. The vineyard name means “whimsical dream” in Japanese. Farmed by the Kisaichi family and located southwest of Sebastopol. Soils are Goldridge loam. Aged 12 months in 33% new French oak. · Intense aromas of black cherries, raspberries, herbal oak and cardamon spice. Beautifully composed and gentle in the mouth with tasty red raspberries and currants, a compelling earthiness, and a tasty riff of oak. Harmonious with impressive glass-filling presence. Reviewed July 9, 2009 ARTICLE »
2007 DeLoach Vineyards Masut Vineyard Redwood Valley Pinot Noir
15.0% alc., 1,000 cases, $45. Clones 113 and 115 were planted in 1996 according to biodynamic principles and these vines are tended by pioneers of biodynamic farming, Jacob Fetzer and his family. · Well oaked dark fruits on the nose. Powerfully flavored earth-kissed dark raspberry fruit augmented by plum reduction sauce, spice and a hint of grapefruit peel on the dry and slightly hot finish. Reviewed July 9, 2009 ARTICLE »
2005 De Loach Vineyards Russian River Valley OFS Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., $28. This wine is a reserve level Pinot Noir (OFS stands for “Only Finest Selection”). Open-top oak fermenters are used in the vinification. These fermenters offer the advantages of advantageous temperature maintenance, slow and gentle fermentation, and ideal extraction. · Very nice cherry and raspberry infused wine which is elegant, silky and nicely balanced. There are pleasing wood overtones and the lively acid make it a delicious wine with roast chicken. Reviewed January 20, 2008 ARTICLE »
2004 De Loach 30th Anniversary Cuvée Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.9% alc., 350 cases, $45 (sold out). This commemorative bottling comes from the original De Loach estate Pinot Noir vineyard adjacent to the winery planted in 1977. The vines were removed after the 2004 harvest and replaced with new plantings farmed biodynamically. The wine was made with 100% whole cluster fermentation in open top wood fermenters. Aging was in French oak for 10 months. · I drank this wine twice this past year several months apart with consistent notes. It is a medium-bodied Pinot Noir which really needs significant air time to reveal its charms. Initially the nose is closed. Flavors of herbs, oak, plum and cranberry lead to a finish which is stemmy, herbal and moderately astringent with a hint of heat. The texture is smooth and satisfying. I left an opened bottle overnight and re tasted the next day. The nose had cleaned up significantly with appealing toast and cherries. The overall impression was more mellowness and the back end astringency had resolved. The finish now featured some lingering spice and a hint of oak. This wine will benefit from a couple years in the cellar. A decent Pinot with potential, but just not my cup of tea (pinot). When you consider taste, price and availability, I just don’t see how this wine could be the Top Wine out of 10,000, let alone the top Pinot Noir. Reviewed December 18, 2006 ARTICLE »
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