Freddy R. Troya

8.9

River Road Family Vineyards – Pinot Noir Reserve 2022
Russian River Valley – California 🇺🇸

Overview
From the heart of Sonoma’s Russian River Valley, this Reserve Pinot Noir aims to showcase the elegance of the region but falls short of the depth typically expected from this prestigious AVA.

Aromas & Flavors
Light red cherries and cranberries upfront, with faint hints of pomegranate and tart raspberry. Minimal oak influence, with acidity taking the lead over fruit concentration.

Mouthfeel
Light-bodied and sharp, with brisk acidity and subdued tannins. The mid-palate feels thin, and the finish lacks the layered complexity that defines standout Russian River Pinot Noirs.

Food Pairings
Best suited with lighter dishes to balance the acidity: roast chicken, grilled salmon, or a simple mushroom flatbread.

Verdict
While fresh and easygoing, this Pinot doesn’t fully capture the lush berry depth and silky texture that Russian River Valley is known for. A casual sipper rather than a serious expression of the terroir.

Did You Know?
Russian River Valley is one of California’s most celebrated cool-climate regions for Pinot Noir, where the daily fog rolling in from the Pacific helps extend ripening and intensify flavors, something this bottle only hints at. — 11 days ago

William Feinstein

9.2

Tropical with crisp acidity. Rich mouthfeel with some mineral notes. Perfectly paired with Mahi Mahi and August thunder storms rolling in. — 5 years ago

with Maryalice

ADAM STROMFELD

9.3

Rolling cooked red and black cherries and rose petals on the tongue. Soft and well balanced. Barnyard nose. Easy finish — 7 years ago

with Chris, Sabrina and 1 other

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Their Russian River is always pleasant. Needs 3-4 more years in bottle to integrate. 92+ with that kind of age.

The Truffle Mac & Cheese was a big hit with the crowd, I’m allergic to mushrooms.

At Pebble Beach Food & Wine 2025.

The ticket to this event has a pretty big price tag. But when you consider what a Napa etc. tasting or two and lunch would cost you, you are pretty much there and there is so much more than that. It ends up having great value. It’s wine, spirits and food candy land. — 7 months ago

Chris

9.0

Making spirits bright — 5 years ago

with Beth

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Situated on a picturesque site with rolling vineyards bordered by the Laguna de Santa Rosa watershed.
Deep red with aromas of red berry fruit and sweet spices. On the palate cherry and strawberry flavors with tea, vanilla, cinnamon and pepper spices, with cola tones. Fine tannins with balanced acidity carry this rich wine to a lingering finish. Will age well for another decade. Nice! — 7 years ago

B Stacy

9.2

A lovely Chardonnay - a bit of an acidic bite at first, but followed by a light and buttery rolling finish. — 9 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Tried two of their more current releases, 21 Russian River & 21 Crown Gap and this 2017 Thorn Ridge from Magnum. Always consistent, solid Pinots from KB. Paired well with the Duck.

At Pebble Beach Food & Wine 2025.

The ticket to this event has a pretty big price tag. But when you consider what a Napa etc. tasting or two and lunch would cost you, you are pretty much there and there is so much more than that. It ends up having great value. It’s wine, spirits and food candy land.
— 7 months ago

Chris Zitzman

9.3

This will be the second time that I’ve gotten to enjoy Jason Moore’s 2019 Bacigalupi Vineyard Pinot Noir. From just six months ago this wine has already begun opening-up and expressing itself. I think I must have rushed it the first time we cracked it back in August or perhaps in my eagerness I didn’t give the bottle enough time to settle down from its trip from Napa to my door.

Point being: The 2019 is beginning to come alive.

Cigar box and a kind of rich cherry flood the nose. As it opens (and yea I’m letting it open this time. Full patience mode engaged) it naturally begins to spread out and relax.

I’m noticing after the first pour from bottle I got a little sediment. Which is a harbinger of good things to come.

I have entered “berry world”. First glass after about an hour and we are officially rolling. With anything from this historic vineyard, it seems the mouthfeel is the real “bit of cherry”, as I’ve heard it described. Beyond just the flavors that bare themselves upon the sniff and sip- it the mid-palate and finish that (for me) helps to define not only the vineyard but the wine-maker as well.

Give it time if you want to feel that body. The nose alone evolves into a sort of “brandy-marinated cake”.

Trust me- it’s there.

But as the flavors from this wine will surely blow your mind- stay patient, as once it finally reveals itself- even in its youth, you can literally feel the 2019 Modus Operandi, Bacigalupi Vineyard coming alive.

You watch ;). — 4 years ago

with Beth

P A

10

Coming back from South Fork of the Flat Head River by the Spotted Bear Ranger Station what a better way to finish a fantastic day fly fishing than to go to the Spotted Bear Distillery in Whitefish Mt. If you love gin this is for you. Cheers 🥃🇺🇸 — 7 years ago

with paul and Anne-Reed