Dionysus Winery
2010 Moore Vineyards Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir •Moore Vineyards
Russian River Valley
Mission Briefing
Gods of Olympus
Today’s Dionysus 2010 Moore Vineyards Russian River Valley Pinot Noir is a wine that we first tasted in 2013. We enjoyed it then, but decided to revisit it at a later date. We went to our vault to pull out another bottle - and wow, were we very happily surprised! This Russian River Pinot had grown up - and had become quite delicious.
This Pinot is a silky, elegant, fruit-forward and well-balanced wine with a dynamic and long-lasting finish.
Catherine Fallis, SMC, ACWP - 95 pts. & Cellar Selection
“Pinot Noir at its best offers a complex, heady blend of ripe berry fruit, perfume, spice, and an elusive quality. This wine nails it. With notes of strawberry, cherry cola, rhubarb, cedar, forest floor, candle wax, singed meat, and orange marshmallow, a soft, luscious texture, and a mouthwatering slightly chewy finish, this light-bodied wine would pair nicely with crispy roasted pork belly, or Gouda, Gruyere or Comte cheese.”
Tasting Profile
| Look: | A rustic crimson through and through. A beautiful pink ring encapsulates the wine at the edge of the glass. |
|---|---|
| Smell: | A beautiful blend of fruit and earth, with bright fruity notes of black plum, cranberry, bing cherry, and a touch of strawberry. These are laid atop tobacco leaf, fresh forest floor, clove, vanilla, and subtle black pepper. |
| Taste: | Very elegant, and as well balanced on the palate as on the nose. A delightful mix of fresh and stewed fruits, which yield to dark chocolate, sandalwood, clove, and allspice. |
| Finish: | Silky and pleasant on the finish, with just the right amount of acid and grippy tannins. At the very end, just a hint of caramel lingers on the tip of the tongue. |
| Pairing: | A roasted pork loin, served with a cherry balsamic reduction sauce. |
What the Winery Says
As the Elysian Fields are to the Greek Gods of Olympus, so is the Russian River Valley to Sonoma County wines; particularly the Pinot Noir. We source fruit from 4 different blocks with 4 distinct clones: 777, 667, Pommard & 115. We fermented on 4 different batches allowing each lot to provide the unique blend; rich with complexities. Fresh red fruit and character distinguish this Russian River Pinot Noir from the same varietal of other appellations.
A balanced intensity of rich cherry and ripe raspberry envelops the mid palate. The intense flavors of dark chocolate slowly saturate the back palate. Soft tones of caramel are revealed in the long, caressing mouth filling finish.
- Winemaker
- Cecilia Valdivia-Peritore
- Accolades
- 95 Points - Master Sommelier Catherine Fallis
- Appellation
- Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California
- Vineyard
- Moore Vineyards
- Cooperage
- 16 months in 55% new French oak
- ABV
- 13.3%
About the Winery
Born over a Christmas dinner discussion, Winemaker/ Oenologist Cecilia Valdivia and Businessman Mark Adams dreamed of producing a high quality wine that would become a legacy for their children. They adopted the name Dionysus, better known as the Greek God of Wine. As one of the 12 Olympians, Dionysus is not only a winemaker but the patron deity of agriculture and theatre. There could not be a better name to represent the wine that they craft.
Dionysus Winery is a boutique winery in the heart of the Sonoma Valley. We specialize in small lots of handmade wines. For the time being, we are limiting our varietals to a Russian River Valley Pinot Noir and a Sonoma Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. We have a simple philosophy; wine making is an art and, rather than mass producing above average wines; we would rather strive for perfection.
Winemaker Cecilia Valdivia
Cecilia, known to her friends and family as Ceci, is one of the hardest working and best educated winemakers in the industry. The intensity of the harvest only improves on what most would already consider an “A” game. Her 2008 Dionysus Cabernet Sauvignon - Sonoma Valley won a silver medal in the 2011 Grand Harvest Award sponsored by Vineyard and Winery Management Magazine.
Ceci was born in Mendoza-Argentina; the largest wine making area in Latin America. Even as a child, Ceci knew that she wanted to be a winemaker. After years of concentrated study at the University of Mendoza, Ceci obtained her Masters degree in Agricultural Engineering and Oenology. After college, she apprenticed at Trapiche; a winery in Mendoza famous for its Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon. She gained further experience learning the intricate details of harvest at both Chandon and Pona Paula, a Chilean Winery in Mendoza.
After obtaining 3 years of experience in Argentina, 2003 brought Ceci to Sonoma County. Her desire was to increase her harvest experience by learning the processes from another famous wine region. Her first American harvest was spent with St. Francis winery as an intern. After seeing what she had to offer, she was hired as a production assistant.
Soon after, Ceci took a job with Pellegrini Winery as an oenologist. She worked there from 2006 to 2008. In August 2008, Ceci received a job offer with Deerfield Ranch winery as the associate winemaker. The rest is history. Ceci is not only a winemaker but an artisan of the finely crafted wines that are Dionysus.