Harrington Wine

Owner(s) Bryan Harrington
Web site www.harringtonwine.com
 
Link to this site

Harrington is an urban winery, located in a warehouse in the Produce District of San Francisco. Proprietor and winemaker Bryan Harrington is a Pinot Noir specialist who has achieved little notoriety, but his wines are truly worth your interest.

While working as a bartender in San Francisco, Harrington traveled to Europe and became enamored with the very small producers, tending tiny vineyard plots and crafting a few barrels of wine. It was a model that he was eventually to pursue. He started out making wine in his basement in San Francisco, took some University of California Davis classes, moved on to a cooperative winemaking facility in Berkeley, and most recently settled into a new winery in San Francisco.

The 2006 lineup of Pinot Noirs includes wines from five California appellations: Brousseau Vineyard in the Chalone appellation of Monterey County, the Gap’s Crown Vineyard in the Sonoma Coast, the Iund Vineyard in Carneros, the former Birkmyer Vineyard of Wild Horse Valley in Napa and the Wiley Vineyard in the Anderson Valley. The wines are crafted in an artisan fashion with no wine made in larger than a 221 case lot.

Harrington wines are available for purchase from the website at www.harringtonwine.com as well as a number of retailers in the Bay Area. 415-652-9655. Occasional winery open houses are offered. Recommended.

Reviewed Wines

2009 Harrington Paso Robles Nebbiolo

14.1% alc., pH 3.14, TA 0.715, 100 cases, $30. From two Templeton Gap vineyards (Luna Matta and AJB) planted in calcareous soil and sand, much like the hillside slopes of Italy’s Barolo and Barbaresco wines. Aged 16 months in neutral French oak barrels. · Moderately light in color in the glass. Aromas of humus, underbrush and resin with delicate red fruits in the background. A delicate core of red cherries and berries is wrapped in aggressive tannins and lemony acidity which provides a mouth-puckering finish. Decent. Reviewed November 29, 2011 ARTICLE »

2009 Harrington Mendocino (Wiley Vineyard Anderson Valley) Pinot Noir

14.1% alc., pH 3.59, TA 0.61, 48 cases, $40.Sourced from a vineyard planted to the Martini selection in 1968. A 2-acre block of this old vineyard was sold to developers 15 years ago and farming ceased. In 2008, this block was cleared of brush, pruned and an organic dry-farming program established. It is located on a stony, west sloping benchland at an elevation of 1,000 feet. Aged 10 months in 50% new French oak barrels. · Light reddish-purple color in the glass. Complex perfume of red fruits, wooded forest, mushrooms, spice and seasoned oak. Soft and smooth on the palate with a light weight array of red berries and cherries with a savory hint of herbs. A little rustic with mild tannins and vibrant acidity. A gentle wine for current drinking. Good. Reviewed November 29, 2011 ARTICLE »

2009 Harrington Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

14.2% alc., pH 3.59, TA .61, 104 cases, $40. Sourced from the Middle Reach area of northern Russian River Valley. The vineyard is family owned, 2-acre, and planted to Pommard clone. Aged 10 months in 25% new French oak barrels. · Moderately light reddish-purple color in the glass. Aromas of ripe Bing cherries, baking spices and smoky oak. Deeply flavored with very ripe dark cherries and accents of cola and mocha robed in ripe tannins and framed by a healthy acid spine. Appears to be from a very warm Russian River Valley site. Good (+). Reviewed November 29, 2011 ARTICLE »

2009 Harrington Wiley Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

14.1% alc., pH 3.52, TA 0.63, 261 cases, $40. Release September 1, 2011. Wiley Vineyard is one of the westernmost Anderson Valley vineyards. Located in the deep end, it is often the last Pinot Noir vineyard harvested in the Anderson Valley. Sourced primarily from the 30-year-old Pommard block (90% Pommard, 10% 777). Aged 10 months in 25% new French oak barrels. Moderate reddish-purple color and clear in the glass. · Very nicely perfumed with bright aromas of strawberries and sandalwood. Soft and smooth on the palate with medium-weight flavors of dark red berries, savory herbs, oak and earthy mushrooms. A thoroughly charming wine yet to reach its full potential but approachable now. Very good. Reviewed July 1, 2011 ARTICLE »

2008 Harrington Paso Robles Nebbiolo

14.3% alc., pH 3.57, 60 cases, $30. Sourced from two Templeton Gap vineyards (Luna Matta and AJB). Aged 16 months in neutral French oak barrels. · Moderately light ruby color in the glass. Aromas of black berries, dried herbs, tar and mushrooms. Lightly weighted and delicately spiced tart cherry, berry and cola flavors with forceful tannins and a brisk charge of acid on the finish. A nicely flavored early drinking type of Nebbiolo rather than a big Barolo style. One of the better examples I have tasted from California and shows that Nebbiolo doesn’t have to come from Piedmont. Pair with lighter meat dishes and charcuterie. Good. Reviewed December 14, 2010 ARTICLE »

2008 Harrington Iund Vineyard Carneros Pinot Noir

14.0% alc., pH 3.41, 100 cases, $35. Martini clone. Aged 10 months in 20% new French oak barrels. · Moderately intense reddish-purple hue in the glass. A wonderful potpourri of ripe dark berries accented by notes of spice, dark chocolate and oak. The fruit is strikingly vivid and is encased in silky, fine-grain tannins. There are plenty of oak-derived flavors here but they compliment the fruit nicely. The whole package is very soft in the mouth and finishes on a very clean note. Very Good. Reviewed December 14, 2010 ARTICLE »

2008 Harrington Krause Vineyard San Francisco Bay Pinot Noir

14.2% alc., pH 3.50, 175 cases, $35. This Krause Vineyard was planted in 1998 and covers 1.75 acres of Pinot Noir. The clones are Martini, Calera, Mt. Eden and Dijon 115. Aged 10 months in French oak barrels. · Aromas of earth-kissed dark cherries and berries with hints of tea and seasoned oak. Intense and pleasing cornucopia of black cherries and ollaliberries lingering on the dry and fruit-filled and generous finish. Very smoothly textured and a delight to drink. Still great two days later from a previously opened and re-corked bottle. Reviewed December 14, 2010 ARTICLE »

2008 Harrington Brousseau Vineyard Chalone Pinot Noir

14.2% alc., pH 3.54, 125 cases, $40. This vineyard is located within a mile of the Pinnacles National Monument and is known for the limestone strata in the soils. Clone 538. Aged 10 months in French oak barrels. · Moderately dark ruby color in the glass. Aromas of blackberry jam, bay leaf, cut flowers and green garden. Rugged core of blackberry and black plum fruit with underpinnings of earth, cola and seasoned oak. The unbridled tannins are typical of this vineyard as is the unshaven character. The wine shed its whiskers and drank much better with softening of tannins and emergence of more charm two days later from a previously opened and re-corked bottle indicating this wine should be decanted if opened now. Very Good. Reviewed December 14, 2010 ARTICLE »

2008 Harrington Gap’s Crown Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

14.3% alc., pH 3.36, 175 cases, $40. This well-known vineyard is located at the southeastern edge of the Petaluma Gap in the town of Penngrove. The soil is extremely rocky which stresses the vines. The prevailing wind and fog keep the grapes high in acidity while flavors develop. Clones are Dijon 828 and 115. · Moderately dark reddish-purple color in the glass. A cherry themed nose offers added nuances of dark rose petals and exotic roasted coffee. Bright and hightoned flavors of dark red cherries and berries are sweetened with oak and end with a citric peel and cherry skin finish. More restrained and delicate than the other 2008 Harrington Pinot Noirs, achieving more interest over time in the glass. Very Good. Reviewed December 14, 2010 ARTICLE »

2007 Harrington Iund Vineyard Carneros Pinot Noir

14.0% alc., pH 3.41, 258 cases, $40. This vineyard is 25-years old with the 2007 vintage. Martini clone. Aged 10 months in 30% new French oak. · This is a comfortable wine that speaks of fruit in the redder spectrum. Dried cherries are most evident with echoes of spice, oak and tomato. Light to medium-bodied, the mouth feel is all silk and satin. Not an extraordinary wine, but a very fresh and juicy drink driven by crisp acidity. Reviewed September 5, 2009 ARTICLE »

2007 Harrington Wiley Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

14.0% alc., 227 cases, $40. Released April 2009. Wiley Vineyard is one of the westernmost Anderson Valley vineyards located in the deep end of the valley and often the last Pinot Noir vineyard harvested in the Anderson Valley. This wine is sourced from the vineyard’s 25-year-old Pommard block and some 777 clone from younger plantings. Harvested at 23.5º Brix. Aged 10 months in 25% new French oak barrels. · Alluring nose of black cherries with forest floor and stem spice. Very tasty dark berry and plum fruit with edible flower and chocolate overtones. Comforting in the mouth with soft tannins and bright acidity. Bottled in August of 2008 and now reaching a perfect drinking window. Reviewed June 5, 2009 ARTICLE »

2007 Harrington Wiley Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

14.0% alc., pH 3.59, 227 cases, $40. This vineyard sits 10 miles from the Pacific Ocean and is one of the most westerly Anderson Valley vineyards. This cool area, known as the “deep end,” is often the last Pinot Noir vineyard harvested in the Anderson Valley. The old vines are rooted in fractured sandstone and dense loam. Integral to this wine is the 25-year-old Pommard block. Clones 37 and 777 complete the composition. Aged 10 months in 25% new French oak. · A big nose replete with black fruits, oregano and green garden. Blue and red fruits on the palate with a citric tang on the finish. Pleasant, but seems dull at present, lacking punch and finish. Not typical of what I have come to expect from this vineyard and I suspect this is an off bottle. I reviewed this wine at the 2009 Anderson Valley Pinot Noir Festival and said, “Alluring nose of black cherries with forest floor and stem spice. Very tasty dark berry and plum fruit with edible flower and chocolate overtones. Comforting in the mouth with soft tannins and bright acidity.” Reviewed November 17, 2008 ARTICLE »

2007 Harrington Gap’s Crown Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

14.3% alc., pH 3.58, 304 cases, $45. The vineyard is located on a hillside at the cool southeastern edge of the Petaluma Gap, close to the town of Penngrove. The wind and fog funnel in from the Pacific Ocean, keeping acidity high in the grapes and allowing slow maturation. The soils is extremely rocky, de-vigorizing the vines. Clones 828, 667, 115 and Swan. Aged 10 months in 50% new French oak. · Appealing scents of black cherry jam lead to cherry-driven flavors with a hint of cola. The cherries really sing. Great fruit purity, smoothly textured, fine-grain tannins and a clean finish. Straight forward and lacking some power, this is still very pleasing juice. Reviewed September 5, 2009 ARTICLE »

2007 Harrington Brosseau Vineyard Chalone Pinot Noir

14.8% alc., pH 3.52, 132 cases, $50. This site is known for the limestone strata pushed up from a million-year-old seabed by the nearby volcano. Clone 538. Aged 10 months in French oak. · With some time in the glass, this wine explodes with bright black fruits enhanced by aromas of restrained oak-driven spice and toast. More fullness, more creamy fruit and more pizzazz than other wines in the lineup. The black raspberry and blackberry fruit core is mouth filling but not jammy. Despite its prodigious fruit, this is a pretty wine that finishes light with a memorable lingering aromatic presence. There is a healthy tannic backbone and perfectly balanced acidity predicting good age ability. The best wine I have ever had from this vineyard. Reviewed September 5, 2009 ARTICLE »

2006 Harrington Wiley Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

14.1% alc., $40. This vineyard is a little-known gem and the wines I have sampled from here are terrific. · A nose of great interest featuring ripe cherry compote, newly-sawed oak and a touch of good barnyard funk. Dark cherry and berry flavors with riffs of loamy earth and oak, fine-grain tannins, finishing with a fruity persistence as it slips off the back of the palate. This wine held up beautifully in a sampling throughout the day. Reviewed September 5, 2009 ARTICLE »

2006 Harrington Wiley Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

14.1% alc., $40. · Aromas of black cherries, newly sawed oak and a touch of barnyard are enticing. Black cherry and dark berry fruit flavors that are earth-kissed. Seamless with an impressive finish that seems to never end. This is a little-known vineyard gem and the wines I have sampled from the unique terroir have been stellar. Reviewed June 5, 2009 ARTICLE »

2006 Harrington Gap’s Crown Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

14.4% alc., $45. · This alluring wine smells and tastes like a fresh Bing cherry pie. There is judicious use of oak, brisk acidity and a seamless integration of fruit and tannin. Reviewed November 17, 2008 ARTICLE »

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