Dec 30, 2022
Search This Site:
Philo Ridge Vineyards
| Owner(s) | Fred Buonanno, Heather McKelvey |
| Web site | www.philoridge.com |
| Link to this site |
Fred Buonanno and Heather McKelvey found their dream property high on a ridge in the Anderson Valley region. They purchased 40+ acres in 1999. Some of the property had been planted in 1976 to Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot by the original owner, Vernon Rose, of the now defunct Christine Woods Winery. The couple hired vineyardist Norman Koble to supervise planting of Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris on the property. Heather is the winemaker.
The winery and home in the hills above Boonville in the Anderson Valley is entirely run on solar and wind power.
They produce about 2,500 cases of eleven different red and white varietals from vineyards in Mendocino County. A tasting room is open Friday to Monday at 14125 Highway 128 in downtown Boonville.
Articles About Philo Ridge Vineyards
Anderson Noir Valley Pinot Festival: After the Smoke Clears (8.16 6/8/2010)
Anderson Noir Valley: Trade Tasting (9.8 6/24/2012)
Anderson Valley Pinot Noir Festival (9.26 6/23/2013)
Press Tasting of Anderson Valley Pinot Noir (9.44 7/28/2014)
Results of Exclusive Press Tasting of Anderson Valley Pinot Noir (Mendocino Fairgrounds) (11.6 7/8/2017)
Wineries in Anderson Valley and Mendocino Ridge* (6.60 6/9/2008)
Reviewed Wines
2012 Philo Ridge Vineyards Marguerite Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
13.7% alc., pH 3.55, TA
0.62, 190 cases, $50. This vineyard is located at 1,500 feet elevation and is 40-years-old. Entirely dry farmed,
sustainably managed, with naturally mined minerals and amendments added to the soil. Harvest Brix 23.5º
average. 100% de-stemmed, 3-day cold soak, feral fermentation. Basket bladder pressed into French oak
barrels, 30% new, 70% neutral, where it was aged for 26 months. Racked up to three times before bottling,
unfined and unfiltered. Bottled aged 9 months before release.
·
Light orange red color in the glass. Aged aromas
of dried cherry, spice, leather and tobacco. Lighter in weight, with austere fruit and very bright acidity, falling off
quickly on the finish.
Score: 87.
Reviewed July 8, 2017
ARTICLE »
2010 Philo Ridge Vineyards Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
13.6% alc., 250 cases, $36. Philo Ridge and
Ferrington vineyards. Clones 115, 777, 667, Pommard and Wädenswil. Harvest Brix 23.6º. 100% destemmed,
3-day cold soak, proprietary yeasts, basket bladder pressed, aged 25 months in 35% new French
oak and the remainder in neutral barrels. Aged in bottle 6 to 8 months. Unfined and unfiltered.
·
Moderate
reddish purple color in the glass. Highly approachable, with aromas of forest floor, herbs and oak, and an array
of red fruits on the lean palate which is accented with spice and acid-driven minerality.
Score: 88.
Reviewed July 28, 2014
ARTICLE »
2009 Philo Ridge Vineyards Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., pH 3.57, TA 0.69, 455 cases, $32,
release June 1, 2012. Sourced from Philo Ridge Vineyards and Ferrington Vineyards. Clones 115, 777, 667,
Pommard and 2A. 100% de-stemmed, long cool fermentation, basket pressed, aged 24 months in 35% new
French oak barrels. Unfined and unfiltered.
·
Medium reddish-purple color in the glass. Fragrant with aromas
of darker cherries and strawberries with a hint of mocha. Tasty core of mid weight fruit complimented by
savory herbs and oak-driven accents, finishing with refreshing acidity. Good (+).
Reviewed June 24, 2012
ARTICLE »
2009 Philo Ridge Vineyards Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., pH 3.57, TA 0.69, 455 cases, $34.
Released June 1, 2012. Produced at the first 100% solar powered winery in the United States. Sourced from
Philo Ridge Vineyards and Ferrington Vineyards. Clones are 115, 777, 667, Pommard and Wädenswil.
Winemaker is Heather McKelvey. 100% de-stemmed, whole berry fermented, gentle pressing, aged 24 months
in 35% new French oak barrels and the remainder in neutral oak barrels. Unfined and unfiltered. Aged 9
months in bottle before release.
·
Light reddish-purple color in the glass. Aromas of strawberries, clay, briar and
herbal oak. Middleweight flavors of cherries, boysenberries and plum. A relatively mature wine with well
integrated tannins and balanced acidity. Good.
Reviewed June 23, 2013
ARTICLE »
2006 Philo Ridge Vineyards Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., 410 cases, $19. Released
February 2010. Sourced from Ferrington Vineyard. Aged 22 months in 50% new French oak barrels
and bottle aged for 9 months.
·
Moderately intense reddish-purple color in the glass. The nose is very
floral with notes of forest floor and mint. An elegantly styled wine that is nicely flavored with cherries
and spice. A value-play that tastes much better than it smells. Good.
Reviewed June 8, 2010
ARTICLE »
2005 Philo Ridge Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
$32. Scheduled to be released
soon.
·
Nice Pinot perfume including mineral-infused red cherries. Dry candy flavors
with lively acidity. Needs a little time.
Reviewed June 9, 2008
ARTICLE »
2005 Philo Ridge Vineyards Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
13.3% alc., 250 cases, $32. The fruit is sourced
primarily from Ferrington Vineyard. Clones 115, 667 and 777. Picked at 23.5º Brix. Slow fermentation in 1-ton
open top fermenters, 4 day cold soak, aged 18 months in 50% new French oak barrels. Aged 9 months in
bottle before release.
·
Moderately light in color. The nose is very floral with a green note. Attractive flavors of
fresh berries and cherries with a riff of oak. Soft and smooth with supple tannins.
Reviewed June 5, 2009
ARTICLE »
2004 Philo Ridge Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
$28. Only a few cases left.
·
A very
nice mature Pinot with secondary aromas of spice, cigar box, and leather. Red fruit
driven with a touch of sherry evident.
Reviewed June 9, 2008
ARTICLE »
2012 Philo Ridge Vineyards Marguerite Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
13.7% alc., pH 3.55, TA 0.62, 190 cases, $50. This vineyard is located at 1,500 feet elevation and is 40-years-old. Entirely dry farmed, sustainably managed, with naturally mined minerals and amendments added to the soil. Harvest Brix 23.5º average. 100% de-stemmed, 3-day cold soak, feral fermentation. Basket bladder pressed into French oak barrels, 30% new, 70% neutral, where it was aged for 26 months. Racked up to three times before bottling, unfined and unfiltered. Bottled aged 9 months before release. · Light orange red color in the glass. Aged aromas of dried cherry, spice, leather and tobacco. Lighter in weight, with austere fruit and very bright acidity, falling off quickly on the finish. Score: 87. Reviewed July 8, 2017 ARTICLE »
2010 Philo Ridge Vineyards Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
13.6% alc., 250 cases, $36. Philo Ridge and Ferrington vineyards. Clones 115, 777, 667, Pommard and Wädenswil. Harvest Brix 23.6º. 100% destemmed, 3-day cold soak, proprietary yeasts, basket bladder pressed, aged 25 months in 35% new French oak and the remainder in neutral barrels. Aged in bottle 6 to 8 months. Unfined and unfiltered. · Moderate reddish purple color in the glass. Highly approachable, with aromas of forest floor, herbs and oak, and an array of red fruits on the lean palate which is accented with spice and acid-driven minerality. Score: 88. Reviewed July 28, 2014 ARTICLE »
2009 Philo Ridge Vineyards Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., pH 3.57, TA 0.69, 455 cases, $32, release June 1, 2012. Sourced from Philo Ridge Vineyards and Ferrington Vineyards. Clones 115, 777, 667, Pommard and 2A. 100% de-stemmed, long cool fermentation, basket pressed, aged 24 months in 35% new French oak barrels. Unfined and unfiltered. · Medium reddish-purple color in the glass. Fragrant with aromas of darker cherries and strawberries with a hint of mocha. Tasty core of mid weight fruit complimented by savory herbs and oak-driven accents, finishing with refreshing acidity. Good (+). Reviewed June 24, 2012 ARTICLE »
2009 Philo Ridge Vineyards Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., pH 3.57, TA 0.69, 455 cases, $34. Released June 1, 2012. Produced at the first 100% solar powered winery in the United States. Sourced from Philo Ridge Vineyards and Ferrington Vineyards. Clones are 115, 777, 667, Pommard and Wädenswil. Winemaker is Heather McKelvey. 100% de-stemmed, whole berry fermented, gentle pressing, aged 24 months in 35% new French oak barrels and the remainder in neutral oak barrels. Unfined and unfiltered. Aged 9 months in bottle before release. · Light reddish-purple color in the glass. Aromas of strawberries, clay, briar and herbal oak. Middleweight flavors of cherries, boysenberries and plum. A relatively mature wine with well integrated tannins and balanced acidity. Good. Reviewed June 23, 2013 ARTICLE »
2006 Philo Ridge Vineyards Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., 410 cases, $19. Released February 2010. Sourced from Ferrington Vineyard. Aged 22 months in 50% new French oak barrels and bottle aged for 9 months. · Moderately intense reddish-purple color in the glass. The nose is very floral with notes of forest floor and mint. An elegantly styled wine that is nicely flavored with cherries and spice. A value-play that tastes much better than it smells. Good. Reviewed June 8, 2010 ARTICLE »
2005 Philo Ridge Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
$32. Scheduled to be released soon. · Nice Pinot perfume including mineral-infused red cherries. Dry candy flavors with lively acidity. Needs a little time. Reviewed June 9, 2008 ARTICLE »
2005 Philo Ridge Vineyards Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
13.3% alc., 250 cases, $32. The fruit is sourced primarily from Ferrington Vineyard. Clones 115, 667 and 777. Picked at 23.5º Brix. Slow fermentation in 1-ton open top fermenters, 4 day cold soak, aged 18 months in 50% new French oak barrels. Aged 9 months in bottle before release. · Moderately light in color. The nose is very floral with a green note. Attractive flavors of fresh berries and cherries with a riff of oak. Soft and smooth with supple tannins. Reviewed June 5, 2009 ARTICLE »
2004 Philo Ridge Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
$28. Only a few cases left. · A very nice mature Pinot with secondary aromas of spice, cigar box, and leather. Red fruit driven with a touch of sherry evident. Reviewed June 9, 2008 ARTICLE »