2017 Gary Farrell Pinot Noir Russian River Selection 750 ml

The 2017 Gary Farrell Pinot Noir Russian River Selection is a standout, with wildly complex aromas of red cherry and black raspberry, and undertones of forest floor, kola nut, wild lavender, and pie spice. Wine Enthusiast awarded it 94 points, calling it “an outstanding showcase of the appellation” and “exotically spicy.” Simply put, this is a must-have for Pinot Noir lovers everywhere. 

The Russian River Selection is the winery’s calling card, a tapestry of the best vineyards in the region, including Rochioli, Bacigalupi, Hallberg, and more—sources of some of the most critically acclaimed (and most expensive) Pinot Noirs in California. Yet Farrell bottles these iconic sites in a Pinot anchored by classic Sonoma flavors of black fruit, cherry cola, and spice cake, framed by silky tannins in a sub-$50 value bottle. 

At a time when California Pinot Noir is exploding with top-scoring new producers, few names carry the weight of Gary Farrell, a pioneer of the Russian River Valley who famously helped usher in the region’s rise to prominence.  The Gary Farrell team has been leading the way since 1982, when Farrell himself made a Pinot from Rochioli Vineyard even before there was an AVA for the Russian River Valley. Today, with winemaker Theresa Heredia at the helm and bringing her Burgundy experience to bear in California, the wines are as delicious as ever.

Vintage after vintage, the Russian River Selection bottling encapsulates the generous fruit, spine of spice, and floral lift that make the Pinots of this part of Sonoma so special. The 2017 rendition is yet more proof that this classic producer is synonymous with great Sonoma Pinot Noir at half the standard price.