2018 Harvest Moon Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County
Tasting Notes
Aromas of new leather, rose petal, and cherry. The palate erupts with bright and juicy acidity. Fruit of tart raspberry and pomegranate with earthiness of slate. The finish is very long with notes of almond and the bright acidity lasting till the end.
This wine is beautiful and will be more interesting and integrated in 2-4 years; it will benefit with time. Not soda pop Pinot Noir!
Specs
Vintage: 2018
Blend: 100% Pinot Noir
Appellation: Russian River Valley
Alcohol: 13.2%
What’s Included
3-bottles:
3x 2018 2018 Harvest Moon Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County
Case:
12x 2018 Harvest Moon Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County
The Harvest Moon: the moon at and about the period of fullness that is nearest to the autumnal equinox. In the legend of the Harvest moon, it is said that all full moons have their own special characteristics based primarily on the whereabouts of the ecliptic in the sky at the time of year that these moons are visible.
Harvest Moon Estate and Winery was founded on growing, producing, and bottling world-class Russian River Valley wine in a balanced, elegant style. Our premise is that Russian River Valley Zinfandel can be just as layered and complex as any Pinot Noir or Bordeaux variety in the world and receive the same respect. The Pitts family has grown quality grapes in the Russian River Valley since 1976. In 2000, son Randy reverse migrated from San Francisco back to Sonoma County to assume the farming responsibilities at the family’s modest nine-acre ranch. In conjunction with lessons on farming by his Dad and a few viticulture/enology courses at the local junior college, Randy made a barrel of homemade Zinfandel off the ranch’s back block which turned out exceptionally tasty. Quickly concluding that properly farmed and judiciously fermented, Zinfandel has great capabilities of being California’s own wine nobility. The growers-turned winemakers birthed their inaugural vintage in 2002 and look forward to making their Zinprint on the wine scene for decades to come.
In addition to growing Zinfandel, Harvest Moon also hand-crafts small amounts of Russian River Valley Gewürztraminer, Pinot Noir, and Dry Creek Cabernet Sauvignon.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WI
Harvest Moon Russian River Pinot Noir
3 bottles for $64.99 $21.66/bottle + $2.67/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $199.99 $16.67/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
Another house favourite! Need to think about whether we can afford the space.
For anybody who likes restrained and the more “Burgundian” style, this is for you!
@klezman It is indeed. Now, that’s not actually my style, so due to space/budget I’ll be sitting out. My stepbrother, who does like that style, could not believe I got something this good for < $20 (casemates offer a couple years ago).
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
2018 Harvest Moon Russian River Pinot Noir - $60 = 23.06%
Surprised and excited to receive this new lab rat – thanks casemates & Alice!! Looked like a two bottle box and it was - this not only includes a bottle of the Harvest Moon 2018 Pinot Noir but also a bonus bottle of their Accorsi Grove Manzanillo olive oil!! Yay!
Full disclosure, the wife and I love pinot and particularly sipping while cooking meals on the weekends when we tend to have ability to spend many hours preparing a special meal. Having received this rattage late last week, we were able to let it rest a couple days. While we wanted to plan a meal around the bottles, our hectic schedule left us to what we had on hand and paired with flavors we were craving at the moment. We sipped Harvest Moon pinot while prepping and eating homemade corn tortillas, fresh cheeses, lentils, sweet and hot peppers. First impression was that the Harvest Moon was light and straightforward … and completely pleasant. It doesn’t need food and we enjoyed just sipping on its own. Not much of a nose on opening. Not too sweet or dry, or complex. First tasting immediately after uncorking was perhaps too much of single note but it did open nicely. By evening end, it was a glass that was hard to put down.
This is a lovely wine and certainly worth it to those with available funds and space.
We next turned to the olive oil and for this my wife made a homemade round of bread. We compared the olive oil with the organic extra virgin Terra di Bari Bitonto from Costco (eating with cheeses and other seasonings). Delicious! This stuff is grassy, peppery, and leaves a complex and lingering bitter & sweet taste. Looking forward to more!! Shame it’s not offered here…
Thanks again Casemates!!
I will say it again: On my trip to Sonoma, this was the most disappointing experience.
Hook and Ladder: my girlfriend held a tiny little puppy for her entire tasting, and we wished we could bring it home for… a plane flight?
We scheduled a tour and wen’t to Harvest Moon. We had a girl that was, apparently, experiencing her last day, and we were absolutely last on her concern. What does someone do on their last day? Invite all the friends.
We were, at best, second-class citizens. We sat there while she talked to everyone of her friends but us. I have said this before. Harvest Moon was the shittiest winery as far as caring about people that crossed the damn country to visit. I am so happy for her going away party.
I have let this be known, and at no point has Randy given two craps. Screw Harvest Moon.
@KNmeh7 hi, This is the first time I’ve heard this experience and it really makes me sad to hear about this. Having Crafted wine and hosted in the tasting room for 17 years of my life, we pride ourselves in offering a unique, frankly incredible experience. I remind my (often young) staff to put himself in the shoes of visiting clients, especially the ones who have to get on a plane and takeoff work and get babysitters and house sitters and pet sitter to arrive in the Bay Area to not so lovely traffic then to come to our spot and maybe two others in a given day in Wine Country. This is always been our success and solid reputation.
Im very sorry to hear about your experience, and although this experience represents only approximately 2%of thousands of visits each year, it still sucks to hear. Sorry. Randy Pitts.
@KNmeh7 Ugh. That makes me sad. Nobody should ever get that treatment at a winery - that’s why I generally won’t to go Temecula. They only care about the bachelorette parties and not those more serious about wine. (Over-generalization, of course.)
I hope Randy has the opportunity to make it up to you.
@KNmeh7 I have visited Harvest Moon many times traveling from Georgia. During every visit, we have great experiences and Randy checked in with us personally. He is so enthusiastic about his wine, and seems to really care about your opinion and experience. I love opening a bottle of Randy Zin (always said with exclamation when we pull it from the cellar). It sounds like the departure of that employee was a blessing. I encourage you to give Harvest Moon another chance. And if you don’t, well, that leaves more for the rest of us!
@Harvest_Moon How would you say this compares to the 2014 that was offered a very long time ago here (and which was one of my first casemate purchases). We felt like the 2014 was really drinking well a month or so ago.
@cbrehman@Harvest_Moon Good to know, about the 2014. I just came across a bottle of it the other day, it’s now in my queue for near-future consumption.
2018 Harvest Moon Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County
Tasting Notes
Specs
What’s Included
3-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
$504/Case at Harvest Moon Estate & Winery for 12x 2018 Harvest Moon Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County
About The Winery
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WI
Estimated Delivery
Monday, Jan 3 - Thursday, Jan 6
Harvest Moon Russian River Pinot Noir
3 bottles for $64.99 $21.66/bottle + $2.67/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $199.99 $16.67/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
2018 Harvest Moon Russian River Pinot Noir
Another house favourite! Need to think about whether we can afford the space.
For anybody who likes restrained and the more “Burgundian” style, this is for you!
@klezman It is indeed. Now, that’s not actually my style, so due to space/budget I’ll be sitting out. My stepbrother, who does like that style, could not believe I got something this good for < $20 (casemates offer a couple years ago).
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
2018 Harvest Moon Russian River Pinot Noir - $60 = 23.06%
Sorry everyone, meant to get this posted earlier.
Surprised and excited to receive this new lab rat – thanks casemates & Alice!! Looked like a two bottle box and it was - this not only includes a bottle of the Harvest Moon 2018 Pinot Noir but also a bonus bottle of their Accorsi Grove Manzanillo olive oil!! Yay!
Full disclosure, the wife and I love pinot and particularly sipping while cooking meals on the weekends when we tend to have ability to spend many hours preparing a special meal. Having received this rattage late last week, we were able to let it rest a couple days. While we wanted to plan a meal around the bottles, our hectic schedule left us to what we had on hand and paired with flavors we were craving at the moment. We sipped Harvest Moon pinot while prepping and eating homemade corn tortillas, fresh cheeses, lentils, sweet and hot peppers. First impression was that the Harvest Moon was light and straightforward … and completely pleasant. It doesn’t need food and we enjoyed just sipping on its own. Not much of a nose on opening. Not too sweet or dry, or complex. First tasting immediately after uncorking was perhaps too much of single note but it did open nicely. By evening end, it was a glass that was hard to put down.
This is a lovely wine and certainly worth it to those with available funds and space.
We next turned to the olive oil and for this my wife made a homemade round of bread. We compared the olive oil with the organic extra virgin Terra di Bari Bitonto from Costco (eating with cheeses and other seasonings). Delicious! This stuff is grassy, peppery, and leaves a complex and lingering bitter & sweet taste. Looking forward to more!! Shame it’s not offered here…
Thanks again Casemates!!
@birdbrains You got their estate olive oil?!?! Lucky rat!
@klezman I know, right?!
I will say it again: On my trip to Sonoma, this was the most disappointing experience.
Hook and Ladder: my girlfriend held a tiny little puppy for her entire tasting, and we wished we could bring it home for… a plane flight?
We scheduled a tour and wen’t to Harvest Moon. We had a girl that was, apparently, experiencing her last day, and we were absolutely last on her concern. What does someone do on their last day? Invite all the friends.
We were, at best, second-class citizens. We sat there while she talked to everyone of her friends but us. I have said this before. Harvest Moon was the shittiest winery as far as caring about people that crossed the damn country to visit. I am so happy for her going away party.
I have let this be known, and at no point has Randy given two craps. Screw Harvest Moon.
@KNmeh7 hi, This is the first time I’ve heard this experience and it really makes me sad to hear about this. Having Crafted wine and hosted in the tasting room for 17 years of my life, we pride ourselves in offering a unique, frankly incredible experience. I remind my (often young) staff to put himself in the shoes of visiting clients, especially the ones who have to get on a plane and takeoff work and get babysitters and house sitters and pet sitter to arrive in the Bay Area to not so lovely traffic then to come to our spot and maybe two others in a given day in Wine Country. This is always been our success and solid reputation.
Im very sorry to hear about your experience, and although this experience represents only approximately 2%of thousands of visits each year, it still sucks to hear. Sorry. Randy Pitts.
@KNmeh7 Ugh. That makes me sad. Nobody should ever get that treatment at a winery - that’s why I generally won’t to go Temecula. They only care about the bachelorette parties and not those more serious about wine. (Over-generalization, of course.)
I hope Randy has the opportunity to make it up to you.
@KNmeh7 I have visited Harvest Moon many times traveling from Georgia. During every visit, we have great experiences and Randy checked in with us personally. He is so enthusiastic about his wine, and seems to really care about your opinion and experience. I love opening a bottle of Randy Zin (always said with exclamation when we pull it from the cellar). It sounds like the departure of that employee was a blessing. I encourage you to give Harvest Moon another chance. And if you don’t, well, that leaves more for the rest of us!
Is this more likely to arrive after New Years? My work is closed the week before New Years, so it could either be delayed or returned.
@stever52 If you’re in the Midwest it typically ships out in 10 days which puts it enroute that week you’re off.
This wine will benefit from 2-3 years in bottle or a few hours to warm to room temp in a decanter.
@Harvest_Moon How would you say this compares to the 2014 that was offered a very long time ago here (and which was one of my first casemate purchases). We felt like the 2014 was really drinking well a month or so ago.
@cbrehman @Harvest_Moon Good to know, about the 2014. I just came across a bottle of it the other day, it’s now in my queue for near-future consumption.