Vineyard: Davis Family

OwnerGuy Davis
AppellationRussian River Valley
VarietiesPinot Noir, Zinfandel

Wineries sourcing from this vineyard

Reviewed wines produced from this vineyard

2012 Davis Family Vineyards Soul Patch Estate Grown Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

14.1% alc., $55. Soul Patch is the winery’s estate hillside vineyard that Guy planted in 1996. It is oriented with an eastern facing slope to it receives the gentle morning sun as it burns off the Pacific Ocean fog and dodges the afternoon sun. This bottling is a barrel selection of the favorite barrels in each vintage. · Moderate reddish purple color in the glass. The nose is very shy, revealing delicate aromas of cherry and black raspberry. The fruit core is intense and sappy, offering flavors of black raspberry, boysenberry and spice, framed by firm tannins. Oak is evident in the background. Rather tight but the finish hints at the goodness to come. This bottling typically takes time and I would leave it alone for 3 to 5 years while you drink the other 2012 wines in the Davis lineup. Score: 91-93. Reviewed October 20, 2014 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2011 Davis Family Vineyards Soul Patch Estate Grown Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

14.1% alc., $50. A barrel selection from the Estate Vineyard. A combination of Pommard, 777, 667 and 115 planted in 1996. Farming has always been organic. The vineyard is in the sub region of the Russian River Valley known as Laguna Ridge featuring Goldridge series soils containing a high amount of volcanic ash. · Moderately dark reddish-purple hue in the glass. Initially this wine is quite reserved and takes some coaxing in the glass to bring it into the open. Enticing aromas of Bing cherry, red berry, fruit cake, spice and sandalwood. Bold and intense with a meaty core of black cherry, black raspberry and blueberry fruits backed by complimentary oak. The luscious fruit is pulled into line with fine tannins and acidity. The finish deserves special mention as it is extraordinarily long and intense. The wine was much better the following day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle. In fact, it was so tasty you could nibble at it. Decant if you must drink now, but the wine will benefit from a few years in the cellar. It’s wines like this that make Pinot my paramour. Score: 94. Reviewed October 27, 2013 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2010 Davis Family Vineyards Soul Patch Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

14.1% alc., $50. A favorite barrel selection from the estate vineyard planted by Guy Davis in 1996 featuring Dijon and Pommard clones planted in Goldridge soil in the Laguna Ridge area. · Moderately light reddish color in the glass. Intense cherry perfume with complimentary notes of oak and allspice. Delicate and lighter in this vintage, but with good intensity of flavor, featuring a core of cherry fruit underlain with cinnamon and cardamom spice, and cola. Very supple tannins and appealing upfront drink ability. Very good. Reviewed March 23, 2013 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2009 Davis Family Vineyards Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

14.1% alc., 740 cases, $40. · Moderate reddish-purple hue in the glass. Lovely aromas of fresh Bing cherries and a hint of oak spice. The nose really draws you in. Tasty core of darker cherries with nuances of savory herbs, Pepsi-Cola, pomegranate, baking spice and the finest dusting of oak. Moderately intensely flavored with soft, gossamer tannins. A beautiful, seamless wine that is irresistible. Very approachable now, but will age effortlessly. Much better the next day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle. Reviewed November 2, 2011 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2009 Davis Family Vineyards Soul Patch Estate Grown Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

14.1% alc., 525 cases, $42. · Moderate reddish-purple color in the glass. Pleasing aromas of black cherry cobbler, bay leaf and roasted nuts. Discreetly concentrated flavors of black cherries, black raspberries and plum with the plum singing a high note on the impressively persistent finish. Moderate ripe tannins frame the wine beautifully creating a very smooth and silky mouth feel. Will improve with cellaring. Very good. Reviewed November 2, 2011 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2007 Davis Family Vineyards Pinnacole Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

A special barrel selection only made in certain vintages (2007 was the last vintage). The wine spends more time, 14-15 months, in barrel untouched and takes on more oak. Cole calls it “Soul Patch times 2.” · Deep reddish-purple color in the glass. A full-bodied wine with explosive aromas of black plum, black cherry, blackberry, cola and spice mirrored in the flavor profile. Firm, but not aggressive tannins. My experience with this wine is that it benefits from decanting, but I only had a glimpse after Cole was kind enough to open a bottle. Very good. Reviewed March 23, 2013 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2007 Davis Family Vineyards PinnaCole 10th Annniversary Vintage Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

14.1% alc., $60. A reserve estate wine that receives an additional 6 months in barrel and 12 months in bottle. Offered to wine club and mailing list members in early September (check winery for availability). · Moderately light reddish-purple color in the glass. The nose opens very slowly to reveal a haunting mix of cherries and berries with an appealing grassy, herbal note. Delicious black cherry and black raspberry core of moderate intensity lingering on the long citrus-tinged finish. A subtle dark chocolate note adds interest. Still young and a bit tight, improving slowing in the glass over time and becoming more polished and showy the next day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle. Beautifully crafted with well-honed acidity that brightens the fruit. A little fruitier with silkier tannins than its spectacular 2006 predecessor, and every bit as charming. Decant if you must open now. Reviewed November 2, 2011 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2005 Davis Family Vineyards Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

13.9% alc., 957 cases, $40. Fermented in small temperature controlled fermenters. Each clone was kept separate and blended later according to Davis’s preferences. Aging was carried out for 11 months in 40% new French oak from Allier and Troncais forests, air-dried a minimum of 30 months. · The aromatics need some air to emerge, showing seductive darker fruits The fruit attack is quite pleasing with black cherry, raisin and mushroom leading to a finish with barely perceptible tannins. Nicely crafted and easy to like, it is a very good wine that is still a bit closed and will improve with more time in the bottle. Hold off for another 6 months. Reviewed January 20, 2008 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2004 Davis Family Vineyards Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

900 cases, $38. I have participated in the Pinot Noir Shootout for two years now, and every time a Davis Family Pinot is in the lineup, I pick it out as superb. Guy Davis hand farms 7 acres of Pinot Noir from which he produces a single-vineyard estate Pinot Noir each year. His wines are consistently outstanding and available at his tasting room in Healdsburg or through the website. · This Pinot is medium-bodied with an expressive nose of spicy cherries. Cherries and raspberries with a touch of oak saturate the midpalate. The mouth feel is velvety. The finish is satisfying and clean. A complete wine. Reviewed January 22, 2007 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2004 Davis Family Vineyards Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

14.1% alc., 800 cases, $38. This is one of the most highly awarded Sonoma County Pinot Noirs from the 2004 vintage. Accolades include 95-100 points from Gerald Boyd of the San Francisco Chronicle, a Gold Medal at the 2006 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, and a top ranking in the 2006 Pinot Noir Shootout. As a judge in the Shootout, I tasted this wine blind on two separate occasions and both times picked it out as one of my clear favorites. Words probably can't do the wine justice after all these honors. · The nose is very provocative and complex with notes of cherries, raspberries, cola, sandalwood and a little sauvage. The bright and layered Pinot fruit flavors are perfectly entwined with a fine tannin backbone. The mouth feel is plush and the finish is clean and lingering. Complete in every way. A love letter. Reviewed May 22, 2006 WINERY »