2018 La Follette Black Road Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley
94 points, Wine Enthusiast
A most alluring aubergine color is the first sense you encounter with this wine. The Dijon 115 clone gives a light perfume aroma. The fruit flavors are in the dark fruit category (less red/blue) think blackberry, boysenberry. A hint of root beer makes you smile as you sip. Full-bodied, there’s a slight minerality that reflects the Russian River Valley terroir. This Pinot Noir is pleasantly youthful with fine-grained tannins and will continue to develop for the next 3-5 years (2024-2026). Thinking of what to pair it with besides a good book? Try minestrone soup, braised short ribs, duck (or chicken) pâté, Portobello mushroom lasagna, or barbecued pork with a chimichurri sauce.
The Vineyard
Black Road Vineyard is the perfect illustration of Jim Pratts 30-plus years of winegrowing. He has planted some of the most gorgeous and expressive vineyards in the Russian River Valley by purposefully matching clones to their unique microclimates. At Black Road Vineyard, the Dijon Clones are a winning combination. Clone 114 is soft and forward with a lovely texture and Clone 115 contributes aromatics and structure for good cellaring potential.
Winemaking
Harvest Pick: September 12, 2018
Bottled: August 1, 2019
Whole-cluster pressing, no sulphur added to juice prior to fermentation, 100% native yeast primary fermentation, 100% wild malolactic fermentation, 11 months in low toast, air-dry 3-year-old French oak, 25% new
Vineyard Size: 2 acres
Soil Type: Huichica clay loam
Elevation: 91’
Clones: 64% Clone 114 & 36% Clone 115
Rootstock: 101-14
Aspect: Northeast-Southwest
Spacing: 9’x5’
Year Planted: 2008
Specs
Vintage: 2018
Varietal: 100% Pinot Noir
Appellation: Russian River Valley, Sonoma County
Vineyard: Black Road Vineyard
Alcohol: 13.9%
pH: 3.41
Total Acidity: 0.60
Production: 214 cases produced
2018 La Follette Sangiacomo Roberts Road Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast
91 points, Wine Enthusiast
Tasting Notes
Petaluma Gap characteristics of red and blue fruit overflow in this Pinot Noir in the bouquet and taste. Swirling accents of blueberry pie, violets, cedar, cigar box, Santa Rosa plum, and cherry make this medium-bodied wine a delight for your senses. Silky finish that benefited from French oak barrel aging. Enjoy it tonight or cellar properly for a few years (2023-2025). Would be tasty with plank-roasted salmon, lamb tikki masala, or a vegetable frittata (we like to use Maitake mushrooms).
The Vineyard
The Sangiacomo family works closely with us to farm Block 20 to our exact specifications. Roberts Road vineyard, at the eastern foothills base of the Sonoma Coast AVA adjacent to the Gaps Crown, typically yields a lighter than average crop. The Pacific Ocean breeze moderates the sun’s impact allowing the fruit to fully mature while retaining gorgeous softness in this delicate varietal.
Vineyard Size: 2 acres
Soil type: Clay loam series with creek rock
Elevation: 240"
Clone: Dijon 777 & Swan
Rootstock: 110R
Aspect: East-West
Spacing: 8’x5"
Year Planted: 1999
Winemaking
Harvest Pick: September 18, 2018
Bottled: August 1, 2019
Clones were co-fermented, Whole-cluster pressing, 100% native yeast primary and secondary ferments, aged 11 months in low toast, air-dry 3-year-old French oak, 25% new
Specs
Vintage: 2018
Varietal: 100% Pinot Noir
Appellation: Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County
Vineyard: Sangiacomo Roberts Road
Alcohol: 13.5%
pH: 3.67
Total Acidity: 0.57
Production: 189 cases
What’s Included
2-bottles:
1x 2018 La Follette Black Road Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley
1x 2018 La Follette Sangiacomo Roberts Road Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast Case:
6x 2018 La Follette Black Road Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley
6x 2018 La Follette Sangiacomo Roberts Road Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast
La Follette fully embraces the concept of terroir - that each vineyard site has a unique expression that is showcased through the wines. Grapes from each location gain the full benefit of the microclimate, clonal selection, constant eye of the vineyard manager knowing when it is best to pick each row, and so on.
The winemaker’s role is to handcraft a wine true to the vineyard, pure in its expression, and a delight to drink. With each vintage, our understanding deepens and the wines become more reflective of that place.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
La Follette Single Vineyard Pinot Noir Mix
2 bottles for $64.99 $32.50/bottle + $4/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $299.99 $25/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
Got an email from Alice that they needed a last minute labrat. Would I be around to accept the bottle? How can I turn that request down? I’d be happy to take one for the team.
The bottle was delivered on time Monday without issue, a 2018 La Follette Black Road Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir. It’s been a while since I’ve had a RRV pinot so I was looking forward to the bottle. Popped the cork right after arriving home with it and poured a small taste in the Casemates (or Gasemates ?) glass. Nice color, dark ruby, clear with no sediment and nice aromas of red/black cherries and some blackberry. A quick sip showed a rich Pinot Noir, red and black cherries like the aromas suggested, mild tannins and very tasty. Got a leftover dinner ready, hey it’s a Monday night, and headed out to the patio.
This wine is in a nice place. The bottle years have been kind to it, it is not showing a lot of age but does not drink young. It had black tea notes to go with the fruit, and the tannins were light with a slight drying on the tongue. Very light mushroom coming through but you have to look for it. It was a nice Monday night quaff.
I finished the bottle Tuesday night with only slight changes, now the tea notes had transformed to the RRV cola notes, but they were very slight and not in your face. I enjoyed the wine and it held up well with a vacuum stopper on the counter overnight. The last few sips reminded me of a Scott Harvey Barbera with some acidity showing up, but only mildly so. This was a pleasant wine that was enjoyed with food and without and represented the RRV origins well. It would be enjoyed by Pinot lovers and would also be a good gateway to Pinot with all the fruit.
My UPS label indicated that I was getting the Sangiacomo vineyard PN. I would have loved to compare that against the Roessler Sonoma Coast Pinot I had this weekend.This is well worth the case price. After reading the winemaker notes, the cola notes were more root beer like. (The power of suggestion)
Black Road:
94 Points. Crisp and varietally satisfying in deft, delicate layers of cranberry, pomegranate and wild strawberry, this balanced red is stemmy and earthy, accented in black tea and forest floor. It shines in both length and supple mouthfeel, finishing in nutmeg. — Virginie Boone 4/1/2
Roberts Road:
91 Points. With a forested opening, this wine has a delicate frame of elegance and complexity, while being light on its feet and with a lasting acidity. Tangy and earthy, it dazzles in cranberry, orange peel and dried herb. — Virginie Boone 3/1/21
Wine Advocate on the Black Road:
91 Points. Pale to medium ruby-purple, the 2018 Pinot Noir Black Road Vineyard takes its time to open to aromas of mulberries, cranberries, tree bark, tar and burnt citrus peel. The palate is medium-bodied and broody with earthy fruits, a firm, grainy frame and long, uplifted finish. 214 cases produced. Drink 2020-2024. Erin Brooks. 7/23/20
2018 La Follette Sangiacomo Roberts Road Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast
[mod edit: corrected header based on @chipgreen keen eye of the bottle shot]
The 2018 La Follette Black Road Pinot Noir is an outstanding achievement in a Sonoma Coastal Pinot Noir. It offers phenomenal quality, and is made with a deft hand by a winemaker who knows what he or she is doing.
The wine offers blueberry, garrigue, a touch of oak, with a very well-rounded balance, and a long finish.
In my opinion this wine bests Pinot Noir’s that can be more expensive.
The balance is really key here as the wine sings in the glass, not overpowering in any area. There is plenty of fruit, yet a nice balanced acidity and tannin profile.
This, to me, would be a perfect, high-quality Summer Pinot Noir, that would go great with grilled sausage and peppers, as well as other faire.
We were very thrilled with this wine, as you can tell, and excited to add this to our collection.
@lastgoodbye Another thing to mention is that this wine is drinking beautifully today, it’s a 2018, but I also believe that it has some stuffing with a quality oak program to be able to cellar for a while.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations).
2018 La Follette Single Vineyard Pinot Noir Mix - $90 = 23.06%
@thelecroy if you need some of yours divided out I can join in, your call. I’m splitting my case with @cduan but if you need to split off yours I can work something out.
@thelecroy Oddly I just got an email from hello@casemates soliciting splits for northern Virginia, but I’m not in NoVa. Not sure why I got the email? (Not expecting you to answer; just felt like this was the most logical place to post)
lol what a crazy crew we are. @thelecroy - get your case. @Zortapa - you can get your 6 from me (and my case will be split b/t u and @cduan) and I can coordinate with thelecroy to take 6 of theirs, no biggie.
@bunnymasseuse@cduan@thelecroy I was about to order a case until I saw this thread. If y’all have your case(s) figured out, I’ll order another on my own. LMK.
Just got my box delivered today, will work with thelecroy to get the rest of their 6 dispersed. I have a Swilly xchange with Z at some point soon so we will probably swap his 6 then. At this point I’ll probably be go b/t for MD & VA (like normal).
2018 La Follette Black Road Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley
94 points, Wine Enthusiast
The Vineyard
Winemaking
Specs
2018 La Follette Sangiacomo Roberts Road Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast
91 points, Wine Enthusiast
Tasting Notes
The Vineyard
Winemaking
Specs
What’s Included
2-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
$556.20/Case for 6x 2018 La Follette Black Road Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley + 6x 2018 La Follette Sangiacomo Roberts Road Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast at La Follett Wines
About The Winery
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Monday, Jul 10 - Tuesday, Jul 11
La Follette Single Vineyard Pinot Noir Mix
2 bottles for $64.99 $32.50/bottle + $4/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $299.99 $25/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
2018 La Follette Black Road Pinot Noir
2018 La Follette Sangiacomo Roberts Road Pinot Noir
These sound yummy.
2018 La Follette Black Road Pinot Noir
Got an email from Alice that they needed a last minute labrat. Would I be around to accept the bottle? How can I turn that request down? I’d be happy to take one for the team.
The bottle was delivered on time Monday without issue, a 2018 La Follette Black Road Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir. It’s been a while since I’ve had a RRV pinot so I was looking forward to the bottle. Popped the cork right after arriving home with it and poured a small taste in the Casemates (or Gasemates ?) glass. Nice color, dark ruby, clear with no sediment and nice aromas of red/black cherries and some blackberry. A quick sip showed a rich Pinot Noir, red and black cherries like the aromas suggested, mild tannins and very tasty. Got a leftover dinner ready, hey it’s a Monday night, and headed out to the patio.
This wine is in a nice place. The bottle years have been kind to it, it is not showing a lot of age but does not drink young. It had black tea notes to go with the fruit, and the tannins were light with a slight drying on the tongue. Very light mushroom coming through but you have to look for it. It was a nice Monday night quaff.
I finished the bottle Tuesday night with only slight changes, now the tea notes had transformed to the RRV cola notes, but they were very slight and not in your face. I enjoyed the wine and it held up well with a vacuum stopper on the counter overnight. The last few sips reminded me of a Scott Harvey Barbera with some acidity showing up, but only mildly so. This was a pleasant wine that was enjoyed with food and without and represented the RRV origins well. It would be enjoyed by Pinot lovers and would also be a good gateway to Pinot with all the fruit.
My UPS label indicated that I was getting the Sangiacomo vineyard PN. I would have loved to compare that against the Roessler Sonoma Coast Pinot I had this weekend.This is well worth the case price. After reading the winemaker notes, the cola notes were more root beer like. (The power of suggestion)
Those Wine Enthusiast deep thoughts…
Black Road:
94 Points. Crisp and varietally satisfying in deft, delicate layers of cranberry, pomegranate and wild strawberry, this balanced red is stemmy and earthy, accented in black tea and forest floor. It shines in both length and supple mouthfeel, finishing in nutmeg. — Virginie Boone 4/1/2
Roberts Road:
91 Points. With a forested opening, this wine has a delicate frame of elegance and complexity, while being light on its feet and with a lasting acidity. Tangy and earthy, it dazzles in cranberry, orange peel and dried herb. — Virginie Boone 3/1/21
Wine Advocate on the Black Road:
91 Points. Pale to medium ruby-purple, the 2018 Pinot Noir Black Road Vineyard takes its time to open to aromas of mulberries, cranberries, tree bark, tar and burnt citrus peel. The palate is medium-bodied and broody with earthy fruits, a firm, grainy frame and long, uplifted finish. 214 cases produced. Drink 2020-2024. Erin Brooks. 7/23/20
fwiw
2018 La Follette Sangiacomo Roberts Road Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast
[mod edit: corrected header based on @chipgreen keen eye of the bottle shot]
The
2018 La Follette Black Road Pinot Noiris an outstanding achievement in a Sonoma Coastal Pinot Noir. It offers phenomenal quality, and is made with a deft hand by a winemaker who knows what he or she is doing.The wine offers blueberry, garrigue, a touch of oak, with a very well-rounded balance, and a long finish.
In my opinion this wine bests Pinot Noir’s that can be more expensive.
The balance is really key here as the wine sings in the glass, not overpowering in any area. There is plenty of fruit, yet a nice balanced acidity and tannin profile.
This, to me, would be a perfect, high-quality Summer Pinot Noir, that would go great with grilled sausage and peppers, as well as other faire.
We were very thrilled with this wine, as you can tell, and excited to add this to our collection.
@lastgoodbye Another thing to mention is that this wine is drinking beautifully today, it’s a 2018, but I also believe that it has some stuffing with a quality oak program to be able to cellar for a while.
@lastgoodbye
Looks like you got the Sangiacomo that pjm was expecting.
@chipgreen @lastgoodbye
Thanks to the labrats and winedavid, this looks like a great wine and great deal!
@cduan WINNER WINNER SPLITTER DINNER!
/giphy encouraging-dumb-fight
@cduan like to thank my fellow CMr for encouraging me to get in on this
@bunnymasseuse awesome and thank you - can’t wait for this one to arrive!!
POPSOCKETS! SPA KITS! POLLY POCKETS! AWESOME!
@cduan Just arrived, let me know when your ready to do a big splitzies b/t us!
/giphy forceful-assorted-anger
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations).
2018 La Follette Single Vineyard Pinot Noir Mix - $90 = 23.06%
Anyone in Santa Rosa/Sonoma County want to split? I’d take half
@dmers I’m in for half a case if you want to split
@wayne530 ordered, will PM you
/giphy drab-fouled-wizard
Anyone in the Boston area to split a case or share amongst 3 or 4?
@djy2g33 I would split it with you
@boykin Splitting that case
/giphy panoramic-amicable-rain
Also looking for a partner or 2 for a 4 or 6 bottle split in NOVA.
@thelecroy if you need some of yours divided out I can join in, your call. I’m splitting my case with @cduan but if you need to split off yours I can work something out.
@thelecroy Oddly I just got an email from hello@casemates soliciting splits for northern Virginia, but I’m not in NoVa. Not sure why I got the email? (Not expecting you to answer; just felt like this was the most logical place to post)
@lehigh @thelecroy @winedavid49
Have you ever been associated with a shipping address to NOVA?
That would explain things…
@thelecroy If you’re still looking for a splitter in NOVA, I’d be happy to take 6.
lol what a crazy crew we are.
@thelecroy - get your case.
@Zortapa - you can get your 6 from me (and my case will be split b/t u and @cduan) and I can coordinate with thelecroy to take 6 of theirs, no biggie.
@applepi any interest?
@bunnymasseuse yes! I’m in for 1 or 2 if those splits are available!
@bunnymasseuse @cduan @thelecroy I was about to order a case until I saw this thread. If y’all have your case(s) figured out, I’ll order another on my own. LMK.
@bunnymasseuse @cduan @Zortapa Just ordered one and can split off 6
@bunnymasseuse @cduan @Zortapa also good work team, most action I’ve seen by us since Covid…
@bunnymasseuse @cduan @thelecroy Looking forward to it. Thanks.
@bunnymasseuse @thelecroy @Zortapa so how many cases were ordered total? We’re splitting with bunny. Zortapa are you and thelecroy splitting one?
@ApplePI I will work you out two, from either my order or thelecroy’s case… consider yourself covered.
alright folks, here’s our final breakdown:
@cduan 6
@thelecroy 6
@Zortapa 6
Me 4
@applepi 2
Just got my box delivered today, will work with thelecroy to get the rest of their 6 dispersed. I have a Swilly xchange with Z at some point soon so we will probably swap his 6 then. At this point I’ll probably be go b/t for MD & VA (like normal).
Bought the 2 pack - should have gone for the case - next time?