2018 Ketcham Estate Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley
Iconic 98 Point Vintage ~Vinous Media
Tasting Notes
A wonderful representation of a California modern style pinot noir that is everything you want in an approachable wine. All five clonal types (115, 828, 777, 626, and Pommard 4) are blended together to create this fantastic wine. The 5 Clone has balance and structure along with flavors of dark cherry, strawberry, vanilla, cola, and floral hints on the nose.
Ketcham Estate grows a diverse selection of Pinot Noir clones – 115, 626, 777, 828, and Pommard 4. These clones, coupled with the artistic touch of their winemaker Tami Collins, create wines that are nothing short of masterpieces. The Ketcham Estate 5 Russian Clone Pinot is the star of the show.
The vineyard boasts the perfect terroir for Pinot Noir: sunny days and cool ocean-breeze nights. It’s this unique combination that gives the grapes their distinct flavor and character. The vineyard is blessed with a meandering creek and rich, red loam soil (the ideal conditions for the vines to thrive).
2018 was an outstanding year for the Russian River Valley. It was blessed with a 98-point score by Vinous Media, who said, “Two thousand eighteen is a spectacular vintage for Sonoma Pinot Noir in which many producers made some of the very finest wines of their careers. The 2018 Pinots are incredibly expressive of site, making 2018 a fabulous vintage for those who want to explore the many nuances of top vineyards in Sonoma.”
“This Russian River Pinot I am savoring is a true masterpiece that encapsulates the essence of this renowned wine-growing region. As I take my first sip, a delightful burst of ripe cherries envelops my palate, harmoniously accompanied by a subtle kiss of oak. But it doesn’t stop there; this wine offers a symphony of flavors that have matured beautifully over its five years of cellar aging. In addition to the cherries, I detect an irresistible touch of blueberries, weaving in hints of baking spices, cherry cola, and cacao nib notes add layers of complexity, while a vibrant undercurrent of pomegranate lends a refreshing twist. Drink now.”
~ 95 Greg Bybee
Specs
Vintage: 2018
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Appellation: Russian River Valley
Aging: 18 months in French oak barrels.
Alcohol: 14.8%
What’s Included
3-bottles:
3x 2018 Ketcham Estate Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley Case:
12x 2018 Ketcham Estate Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley
Ketcham Estate is a small boutique winery located in the heart of the Russian River Valley. Right next to J Vineyards and Aperture Cellars, and just across the river from famous Russian River Valley icons like Flowers, Rochioli, Gary Farrell, and William Selyem.
This charming estate produces exceptional woman-made wines. The project is run by a group of extremely talented businesswomen: Owner Allie Ketcham, director Renée Graves, and winemaker Tami Collins.
Allie’s journey from the Midwest to the vineyards of Healdsburg is nothing short of extraordinary. An art and literature enthusiast turned winemaker, Allie’s passion for her land and community shines through in every bottle. She joined forces with Renée. Her expertise and wine experience that date back over 20 years is the backbone of Ketcham Estate.
Tami is the mastermind behind these wines. Her scientific background and dedication to crafting fine wines make her the driving force behind Ketcham Estate’s success. At Ketcham Estate, she’s all about making seductive wines with rich fruits, impeccable structure, and perfect balance.
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, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
The various sources show either 14.5 or 14.2 for this wine, I think depending on the vintage, though I’m checking on my phone so don’t hold me to that.
It would be good to get clarification on that point. 15.2 would be a NO for me for most wines but this one has a solid pedigree and I’m short on pinot at the moment.
@danidani12@InFrom
Yeah, there is now, but getting up at 04:30 Eastern for the launch I missed the rollover.
Seeing the Rat pic, it looks like the description and bottle shot match.
Got the listing/link from @ilCesare updated as well.
@danidani12@ilCesare@InFrom
we had a good separation as well, so, in six weeks or so we do bake-out and take some test images. Hurry up and wait. About six years we get on station.
@knlprez I’d be up for 3-4 bottles. I don’t have an address there but will be there for several weeks in November if someone orders a case I’d be glad to get some.
Very excited to get to rat again for Casemates! I got the bottle (and the wonderful Casemates stemless glass to go with it) and placed it in the fridge to get it as close to 65 degrees as quickly as possible. It wasn’t too hot the day that the bottle arrived, but anything to get to drinking faster is key! The color is a burnished ruby and it was slightly opaque in the glass. I was able to smell a nice fruity berry scent (maybe cherry and currant) with a little bit of pepper on the finish. First taste and I got some nice creamy vanilla along with the berries with a hint of pepper at the end. This is a very smooth wine and the tannins are on the medium to low side. It wasn’t too sweet, but there was a good presence of the sugar left in the wine. I could definitely see myself just sitting around drinking this without food, but since it was around dinner time I decided to pair this with a nice cheeseburger with grilled onions and mushrooms from a local gastropub. I made the right decision! The richness of the burger brought forward the sweetness in the wine. The wine did a great job helping to clear my palate between bites. Before I knew it, I had drank most of the bottle in that one sitting! Believe me that was not my intention, I thought I would have a glass or two of this and be able to save the rest to do a day two impression. This wine was dangerously smooth! I did have enough to save for one glass on day two. I had it with some kettle corn as a snack and it was just as delicious. I actually smelled something a little bit grassy this time around that I did not smell on day one. I could see this wine being someone’s everyday drinker because I think it would go well with a nice variety of foods. Overall, I would recommend this wine and I might be lining my pennies up to purchase some myself!
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations).
2018 Ketcham Estate Pinot Noir - $45 = 16.06%
Silver medal 2022 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.
It appears this offer is sourced from One Vine Wines/Big Hammer Wines. Copy is the same including the use of a 98 point vintage from Vinous (vintage in general, not this wine)
Also the 95 point review mentioned in the notes above is from an employee of Big Hammer Wines.
Selling now at Big Hammer for $25.99 free ship on 6.
Palate:
Cherry cola. Earthy oak. Leather. Baking spices. A bit of hard cheese, like parmesan. Red berries
Palate is aligned with the nose
Wonderful acitidy
Good body and depth (for a Pinot)
Dry, not sweet
Medium-low tannins
Wife says it’s easy to drink and thinks it would be a good wine to have with dessert, like a chocolate mousse. I really enjoyed this wine and think it would drink well on its own or with food. It’s a smooth, bold, and balanced Pinot
Quite nice to drink. Retail price guessed to be $20-$25/btl
I’ve had a few vintages of this wine in the past and have enjoyed each one. Classic Russian River Pinot for sure - for those who are looking for lower alcohol, more acid-driven versions of the variety, this is not for you . . . but for everyone else looking for a delicious fruit and spice laden pinot, purchase without hesitation. Cheers
2018 Ketcham Estate Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley
Iconic 98 Point Vintage ~Vinous Media
Tasting Notes
Specs
What’s Included
3-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
$540.00/Case for 12x 2018 Ketcham Estate Pinot Noir, Russian River Valleys at Ketcham Estate
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, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Monday, Nov 6 - Wednesday, Nov 8
2018 Ketcham Estate Pinot Noir Five Clone Russian River Valley
3 bottles for $69.99 $23.33/bottle + $2.67/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $234.99 $19.58/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
15.2% for a Pinot Noir?! Yikes
@klezman holy wowza klezman, you’re right!
The various sources show either 14.5 or 14.2 for this wine, I think depending on the vintage, though I’m checking on my phone so don’t hold me to that.
It would be good to get clarification on that point. 15.2 would be a NO for me for most wines but this one has a solid pedigree and I’m short on pinot at the moment.
Double-check? Phone a friend?
I don’t think the picture and name match. Is the picture wrong?
@danidani12 What about it looks wrong to you?
@InFrom the picture says five clone, which is different from the estate pinot. The estate pinot has a purple label on the winery’s website
@danidani12 I see what you mean. The description in the tasting notes is for the 5 Clone. I wonder which one it is.
Is there a mod in the house, @rjquillin ?
@danidani12 @InFrom
Yeah, there is now, but getting up at 04:30 Eastern for the launch I missed the rollover.
Seeing the Rat pic, it looks like the description and bottle shot match.
Got the listing/link from @ilCesare updated as well.
@danidani12 @ilCesare @rjquillin Oh, right, the launch!
@danidani12 @ilCesare @rjquillin Better to be awake for the launch and miss the rollover, than to be awake for the rollover and miss the launch!
Looks like it went well.
:
@danidani12 @ilCesare @InFrom
we had a good separation as well, so, in six weeks or so we do bake-out and take some test images. Hurry up and wait. About six years we get on station.
Sounds interesting, anyone in Denver ordering? I could be persuaded into a few bottles…
@knlprez I’d be up for 3-4 bottles. I don’t have an address there but will be there for several weeks in November if someone orders a case I’d be glad to get some.
@pmarin sounds like we have half a case if someone wants to get rid of some. Let us know!
2018 Ketcham Estate Pinot Noir
Very excited to get to rat again for Casemates! I got the bottle (and the wonderful Casemates stemless glass to go with it) and placed it in the fridge to get it as close to 65 degrees as quickly as possible. It wasn’t too hot the day that the bottle arrived, but anything to get to drinking faster is key! The color is a burnished ruby and it was slightly opaque in the glass. I was able to smell a nice fruity berry scent (maybe cherry and currant) with a little bit of pepper on the finish. First taste and I got some nice creamy vanilla along with the berries with a hint of pepper at the end. This is a very smooth wine and the tannins are on the medium to low side. It wasn’t too sweet, but there was a good presence of the sugar left in the wine. I could definitely see myself just sitting around drinking this without food, but since it was around dinner time I decided to pair this with a nice cheeseburger with grilled onions and mushrooms from a local gastropub. I made the right decision! The richness of the burger brought forward the sweetness in the wine. The wine did a great job helping to clear my palate between bites. Before I knew it, I had drank most of the bottle in that one sitting! Believe me that was not my intention, I thought I would have a glass or two of this and be able to save the rest to do a day two impression. This wine was dangerously smooth! I did have enough to save for one glass on day two. I had it with some kettle corn as a snack and it was just as delicious. I actually smelled something a little bit grassy this time around that I did not smell on day one. I could see this wine being someone’s everyday drinker because I think it would go well with a nice variety of foods. Overall, I would recommend this wine and I might be lining my pennies up to purchase some myself!
Thanks! Hey what’s the ABV listed on the bottle?
@kaolis ABV on the bottle is 14.8%
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations).
2018 Ketcham Estate Pinot Noir - $45 = 16.06%
Silver medal 2022 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.
It appears this offer is sourced from One Vine Wines/Big Hammer Wines. Copy is the same including the use of a 98 point vintage from Vinous (vintage in general, not this wine)
Also the 95 point review mentioned in the notes above is from an employee of Big Hammer Wines.
Selling now at Big Hammer for $25.99 free ship on 6.
fwiw
Labrat @timnath and wife, delighted to be reporting for duty. This pour was enjoyed at room temp over the course of 2 hours, without food.
Appearance:
Clear, no sediment. Medium ruby color with a slightly garnet edge.
Nose:
Jammy cherries & Strawberries. Cherry cola. Garden hose
Palate:
Cherry cola. Earthy oak. Leather. Baking spices. A bit of hard cheese, like parmesan. Red berries
Palate is aligned with the nose
Wonderful acitidy
Good body and depth (for a Pinot)
Dry, not sweet
Medium-low tannins
Wife says it’s easy to drink and thinks it would be a good wine to have with dessert, like a chocolate mousse. I really enjoyed this wine and think it would drink well on its own or with food. It’s a smooth, bold, and balanced Pinot
Quite nice to drink. Retail price guessed to be $20-$25/btl
I’ve had a few vintages of this wine in the past and have enjoyed each one. Classic Russian River Pinot for sure - for those who are looking for lower alcohol, more acid-driven versions of the variety, this is not for you . . . but for everyone else looking for a delicious fruit and spice laden pinot, purchase without hesitation. Cheers
@tercerowines This is exactly what I wish all rat reports would say. Thanks Larry!
Anyone else’s mind go right to the original Pokemon series?