2019 Foppiano Estate Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley
Tasting Notes
Our 2019 Pinot Noir has developed beautifully with bottle age. The wine has softened nicely and the flavor profile has broadened noticeably. Cranberry, cherry fruit, and wood spice dominate the aromas leading to sharp fruit and a pleasing tar-like character. The smooth tannins give way to a balanced density and soft finish that showcases the layered complexity.
Vineyards
Located just south of Healdsburg, Foppiano Vineyards sits on 160 acres in the acclaimed Russian River Valley. Cool morning fog and warm summer days create an ideal microclimate for grape growing. The Foppiano family has been producing world-class fruit on this land since its purchase in 1896. Today, the vineyards are planted with Petite Sirah, Zinfandel, and Sauvignon Blanc on the warmer bench lands, and Pinot Noir and Chardonnay on the cooler land close to the Russian River.
Winemaking
Producing authentic varietal character Pinot Noir is our goal. In order to achieve that goal, we harvested the fruit at slightly lower sugar. This enhances the red fruit flavors, acid, and ageability of the wine. We used a cultured yeast called Assmanshausen for fermentation. This particular yeast strain ferments very slowly which allows the absorption of delicate flavors and aromas. The wine was aged in just enough new oak to improve stature but not overwhelm the wine.
Specs
Appellation: Russian River Valley
Harvest Dates: September 28, 2019
Alcohol: 14.5%
pH: 3.65
TA: 5.82 g/L
RS: 1.1 g/L
Cellaring: 16 Months – Tight grain French Oak - 35% New
Bottled: January 2021
Cases Produced: 559
What’s Included
3-bottles:
3x 2019 Foppiano Estate Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley
Case:
12x 2019 Foppiano Estate Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley
The story of Foppiano Vineyards is a family epic full of tradition, perseverance, and contributions to the history of Sonoma County and the wine country. Founded in 1896 by Giovanni Foppiano, Foppiano Vineyards is one of Sonoma County’s oldest continually-operated, family-owned wineries. Our family has supplied Northern California with wine for over a century, surviving Prohibition in the 1920s by selling home winemaking kits. We believe that through the strength of the family and a commitment to quality, our traditions can be maintained and thrive. We’re proud to be one of the founding members of the Russian River Valley AVA, and continue to enjoy the fruits of our hardworking Italian heritage. To stay on the cutting edge of quality winemaking, we’ve made important investments in infrastructure and winery equipment throughout the years. The vision of the fifth generation of Foppiano’s, together with Giovanni’s foresight to purchase land in the Russian River Valley, guides our family into the future while creating a world-class wine program representative of our history.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NV, NH, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, SD, TN, TX, VA, WA, WI, WY
Hella good price point; considering they are currently running a 30% off special that’s $34/club and $5 ship.
Wish there was some PS mixed in…
This would be 368.83 to SoCal for a case
@rjquillin is there a 30% off promo code floating around? I always see them mentioned in the comments but never see anything outlined in my email about promotions.
2019 Foppiano Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Estate Grown
Let me start by disclosing my biases: I like Foppiano wines and Pinot Noir is one of my two least favorite reds (the other is Carminere). I prefer inky dark reds like Petite Sirah. My wife and I are currently enjoying a case of Fopppiano 1896 Red Blend, which is a good wine and an outstanding price-performer. And I suffer from chronic nasal congestion, so a wine has to have very forward aromas to register with me.
On pop-n-pour this wine looks like a dark rosé. It’s quite transparent, with a pleasant dark strawberry-red color. I did not notice much aroma, but then I wouldn’t. On tasting, it felt good in the mouth, with light fruit flavors that I couldn’t identify. The 14.5% alcohol was not prominent. It’s dry and has no sharp edges. I found it to be surprisingly drinkable. (The usual Foppiano quality was evident.) My wife took a sip and declared the rest of the bottle to be mine-- she also prefers darker reds. We both thought the 1896 was more to our taste.
I put a small sample it the refrigerator overnight to see if temperature was a factor. A small sip disclosed that it was drinkable at near refrigerator temperature (warmed slightly by a heavy Casemates glass), and I thought it could be enjoyed that way on a hot summer day at the beach. I used the rest of the cold sample to cool the remaining wine (about 1/3 of the bottle) to what I would characterize as a cool cellar temperature. I thought this improved the wine.
Looking at the offer, the case price seems very good for those who like Pinot Noir.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations.)
2019 Foppiano Estate Pinot Noir - $70 = 26.92%
I got the lucky golden ticket last week and the bottle showed up on Thursday - plenty of time to let it rest and try.
Pop and pour, a nice translucent garnet color. Not a lot on the nose - some red berries, perhaps some greenery.
On first taste - light red fruit, green pepper, brambles. Reading into it a bit more, cranberry and muted cherry, but this was all overpowered by strong tannins and a very bitter aftertaste. I resolved to let it sit for a while before giving it another go.
With an hour + open, the tannins have settled and there is less bitterness on the finish. The cherry and cranberry have come to the forefront with a bit of brambles in the mid. This flirts with “jolly rancher” but never gets there (not a descriptor I particularly enjoy). There is a bit of cherry cola in this one, but not as pronounced as some RRV pinots I have had.
Day two, this has fully resolved. Quite smooth on the entry and the finish. The dominant flavor has moved to cranberry / dried cranberry, making me think of Thanksgiving meals. Medium length finish, moderately pleasant on the exit now.
This would be a good wine to drink on its own or with a light meal. My first night I had it with a chili and it was far too overpowered. It is relatively one dimensional, but certainly not something I would hesitate to bring to a friendsgiving or other holiday gathering.
I’d expect to see this on a grocery store shelf in the $20-25/btl range so the case price seems like a good deal.
If you’re worried about it needing to be drank faster, I wouldn’t worry too much about it. I wouldn’t hesitate to let it sit for 5-10 years more to let some of the tannins resolve.
2019 Foppiano Estate Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley
Tasting Notes
Vineyards
Winemaking
Specs
What’s Included
3-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
$432.00/Case for 12x 2019 Foppiano Estate Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley at Foppiano Vineyards
About The Winery
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NV, NH, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, SD, TN, TX, VA, WA, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Monday, Dec 9 - Tuesday, Dec 10
2019 Foppiano Estate Pinot Noir
3 bottles for $64.99 $21.66/bottle + $2.67/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $189.99 $15.83/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
Hella good price point; considering they are currently running a 30% off special that’s $34/club and $5 ship.
Wish there was some PS mixed in…
This would be 368.83 to SoCal for a case
@rjquillin is there a 30% off promo code floating around? I always see them mentioned in the comments but never see anything outlined in my email about promotions.
@smcginnis24
It was an email offer, afaik, and expired last night.
You could check their web site, perhaps it’s been extended.
2019 Foppiano Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Estate Grown
Let me start by disclosing my biases: I like Foppiano wines and Pinot Noir is one of my two least favorite reds (the other is Carminere). I prefer inky dark reds like Petite Sirah. My wife and I are currently enjoying a case of Fopppiano 1896 Red Blend, which is a good wine and an outstanding price-performer. And I suffer from chronic nasal congestion, so a wine has to have very forward aromas to register with me.
On pop-n-pour this wine looks like a dark rosé. It’s quite transparent, with a pleasant dark strawberry-red color. I did not notice much aroma, but then I wouldn’t. On tasting, it felt good in the mouth, with light fruit flavors that I couldn’t identify. The 14.5% alcohol was not prominent. It’s dry and has no sharp edges. I found it to be surprisingly drinkable. (The usual Foppiano quality was evident.) My wife took a sip and declared the rest of the bottle to be mine-- she also prefers darker reds. We both thought the 1896 was more to our taste.
I put a small sample it the refrigerator overnight to see if temperature was a factor. A small sip disclosed that it was drinkable at near refrigerator temperature (warmed slightly by a heavy Casemates glass), and I thought it could be enjoyed that way on a hot summer day at the beach. I used the rest of the cold sample to cool the remaining wine (about 1/3 of the bottle) to what I would characterize as a cool cellar temperature. I thought this improved the wine.
Looking at the offer, the case price seems very good for those who like Pinot Noir.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations.)
2019 Foppiano Estate Pinot Noir - $70 = 26.92%
Another site that hint hint slashes prices is currently offering this for $25/btl
I got the lucky golden ticket last week and the bottle showed up on Thursday - plenty of time to let it rest and try.
Pop and pour, a nice translucent garnet color. Not a lot on the nose - some red berries, perhaps some greenery.
On first taste - light red fruit, green pepper, brambles. Reading into it a bit more, cranberry and muted cherry, but this was all overpowered by strong tannins and a very bitter aftertaste. I resolved to let it sit for a while before giving it another go.
With an hour + open, the tannins have settled and there is less bitterness on the finish. The cherry and cranberry have come to the forefront with a bit of brambles in the mid. This flirts with “jolly rancher” but never gets there (not a descriptor I particularly enjoy). There is a bit of cherry cola in this one, but not as pronounced as some RRV pinots I have had.
Day two, this has fully resolved. Quite smooth on the entry and the finish. The dominant flavor has moved to cranberry / dried cranberry, making me think of Thanksgiving meals. Medium length finish, moderately pleasant on the exit now.
This would be a good wine to drink on its own or with a light meal. My first night I had it with a chili and it was far too overpowered. It is relatively one dimensional, but certainly not something I would hesitate to bring to a friendsgiving or other holiday gathering.
I’d expect to see this on a grocery store shelf in the $20-25/btl range so the case price seems like a good deal.
If you’re worried about it needing to be drank faster, I wouldn’t worry too much about it. I wouldn’t hesitate to let it sit for 5-10 years more to let some of the tannins resolve.
As always, thanks for the opportunity to rat.