Today’s Healdsburg Ranches 2014 The Ranch Reserve Pinot Noir hails from one of the best Russian River Valley vineyards, the astonishingly great Floodgate Vineyard. This steal of a wine is delicious and wonderfully balanced. Enjoy now - and be sure to stock up for the fall.

The Floodgate Vineyard is located in Mendocino County’s Anderson Valley. The mountainous property planted to nearly 60 acres of primarily Pinot Noir. The vineyard sits atop a ridge at the north end of the valley.

Just 15 miles from the Pacific Ocean, the 750 foot elevation vineyard is influenced by the fog and wind that causes the grapes to ripen slowly. This extra time on the vine makes for grapes that have bright and balanced acidity. In 2003 Duckhorn Vineyards acquired the vineyard for its fabled Goldeneye Winery Pinot Noirs. How our friends at Truett-Hurst got their hands on some of the fruit remains a closely guarded secret.

The nose, which shows nearly perfect balance, is loaded with black cherry, red plum, raspberry and cassis up front. As the wine opens up, it reveals additional aromas of forest floor, Alpine strawberry, tomato stem, wild mushroom and subtle spice.

On the palate, the wine is juicy and balanced, with dark fruit, earth and spice in even proportion. Leads with black cherry and blackberry, with plum, mushroom, briar and sweet smoky oak following.