Full Review

Paradise Ridge

Paradise Ridge
2017 Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley

Pair this wine with:
Beef Cheese Pasta Pork

Category: Pinot Noir

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 13.8%
90 Points
Gold Medal
Exceptional
$40

Paradise Ridge
2017 Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley

Pair this wine with:
Beef Cheese Pasta Pork

Category: Pinot Noir

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 13.8%
Bright ruby color. Aromas and flavors of dried cherry, baked strawberry, spiced cranberry, fresh orange zest, mushrooms, dark chocolate, and fennel with a satiny, vibrant, fruity light-to-medium body and a graceful, refreshing, medium-long finish with a suggestion of oak flavor. A fruit-forward, juicy Pinot Noir that will complement roasted turkey and pork.

Tasting Info

Wine Glass Style: Fruity & Juicy & Smooth
Aroma Aroma: dried cherry, baked strawberry, spiced cranberry, fresh orange zest, mushrooms, dark chocolate, and fennel
Taste Flavor: dried cherry, baked strawberry, spiced cranberry, fresh orange zest, mushrooms, dark chocolate, and fennel
Sweetness Sweetness: Fruity
Enjoy Enjoy: Now-6 years on its own and with food
Recipes Pairing: Baked Ham, Meat Loaf, Lasagna
Bottom Line Bottom Line: A fruit-forward, juicy Pinot Noir that will complement roasted turkey and pork.

The Producer

Paradise Ridge Winery

The Producer
4545 Thomas Lake Harris Drive
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
USA
1 707-528-9463

Their Portfolio

88 Paradise Ridge 2015 The Convict, Zinfandel, Rockpile 14.2% (USA) $48.00.
88 Paradise Ridge 2015 The Posse Red Blend, Russian River Valley 13.6% (USA) $54.00.
86 Paradise Ridge 2016 The Confessor Red Blend, Rockpile 13.2% (USA) $60.00.
88 Paradise Ridge 2014 Blanc de Blanc, Russian River Valley 12.1% (USA) $44.00.
87 Paradise Ridge 2013 Late Disgorge Blanc de Blanc, Russian River Valley 12% (USA) $55.00.
87 Paradise Ridge 2015 Merlot, Sonoma County 13.9% (USA) $38.00.
92 Paradise Ridge 2012 Love Late Disgorge Blanc de Blanc, Russian River Valley 12% (USA) $52.00.
BR Paradise Ridge 2018 Chardonnay, Russian River Valley 13.8% (USA) $30.00. - Bronze Medal
90 Paradise Ridge 2017 Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley 13.8% (USA) $40.00.
88 Paradise Ridge 2016 Vineyard Select, Chardonnay, Russian River Valley 13.2% (USA) $45.00.
90 Paradise Ridge 2019 Grandview Vineyard, Sauvignon Blanc, Russian River Valley 13.4% (USA) $22.00.
87 Paradise Ridge 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon, Rockpile 13.8% (USA) $50.00.
95 Paradise Ridge 2018 Branham Vineyard, Malbec, Rockpile 13.8% (USA) $58.00.
95 Paradise Ridge 2015 Barrel Select, Cabernet Sauvignon, Rockpile 13.9% (USA) $65.00.
90 Paradise Ridge 2018 Nagasawa Vineyard, Chardonnay, Russian River Valley 13.5% (USA) $44.00.
87 Paradise Ridge 2018 Chardonnay, Russian River Valley 13.8% (USA) $30.00.
92 Paradise Ridge 2019 Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley 13.7% (USA) $45.00.
88 Paradise Ridge 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, Rockpile 13.6% (USA) $49.00.
90 Paradise Ridge 2019 Zinfandel, Rockpile 13.9% (USA) $48.00.

Pinot Noir

Wine Glass Burgundy.jpg
Serve in a Burgundy Wine Glass
Pinot Noir is one of the world’s most fascinating red varieties. While many red grapes produces wines of power and youthful intensity, a wine made from Pinot Noir is often more refined with higher acidity and lower levels of tannins. The spiritual home for Pinot Noir is Burgundy, where it is produced in many styles, from very light to examples that can age for two to three decades.

Pinot Noirs tend to have aromas and flavors red cherry fruit, while some offer notes of wild strawberry, plum or even floral notes such as carnation and red roses. As tannins in Pinot Noir are not as pronounced as in a grape such as Cabernet Sauvignon or Nebbiolo, most Pinot Noirs can be enjoyed upon release, which is usually two to three years after the vintage.

Burgundy works extremely well for Pinot Noir, as it is a cool climate; a warm or hot climate would not bring out the perfumes of the variety. Thus growers in several countries have planted Pinot Noir in their coolest regions, looking to emulate Burgundy. These include the Willamette Valley in Oregon; Russian River Valley, Santa Lucia Highlands and Sta. Rita Hills in California (among others); Central Otago in New Zealand; Casablanca and San Antonio Valleys in Chile and the Rheinhessen, Pfalz and Baden in Germany (where the grape is known as Spatburgunder). The concept of terroir – a wine is the producet of its specific environment – is most often associated with Pinot Noir.

Pinot Noirs tend to pair well with poultry (duck a l’orange is a classic match), game birds and even certain types of seafoods (as tannins are low), such as salmon, tuna and halibut.