Valravn

About Valravn 2018 Sonoma County Pinot Noir

Have you ever heard of a Valravn? Well, it’s not just any ordinary bird. According to Danish folklore, it’s a mystical creature that decides the destiny of fighters in combat and acquires knowledge from fallen soldiers.

Interestingly, Valravn is also the name of a small winery in Sonoma County founded by Baron Ziegler and Rob Fisher. Baron and Rob are the ultimate wine duo! First, Baron took the Sonoma wine scene by storm with Banshee Wines. Now his ventures range from Wine Director at Single-Thread Farms to Valkyrie Imports. Baron even has 3-star Michelin restaurant in Healdsburg. Meanwhile, Rob Fisher is no joke either. He has an impressive résumé as a winemaker that includes top wineries like Domaine Carneros, Donum, Etude, and Lyric.

Valravn is one of those wineries that gets it. Their wines are affordable, delicious, and made using minimal intervention. You can pop the cork or let the bottle age; it’s up to you.

The Sonoma wine scene is not your typical battlefield. However, the industry still demands entrepreneurs like Ziegler and Fisher to fight for their place in the sun. Small wineries battle with their larger counterparts to secure valuable shelf space all while juggling unpredictable weather and the sands of time. This is what it takes to craft the perfect batch of vino. But hey, who said making great wine was a walk in the park?

The secret to Valravn’s success is all in the relationships they’ve forged. They have exclusive access to the vineyards and have hands-on involvement from vine to bottle. This allows them to control every step of the process. As a negociant winery It’s a perfect marriage.

2018 Sonoma County Pinot Noir

2018 was an ideal growing season in Sonoma, and Valraven knocked it out of the park with their 2018 Sonoma County Pinot Noir! It is a playful blend sourced from vineyards in the Russian River Valley all the way up to Annapolis- a perfect way to explore the Sonoma coast!

There is incredible depth and purity achieved through organic dry-farming and Goldridge soils. The grapes are carefully hand-sorted and undergo a 3-5 day cold soak before being fermented in small open-top stainless steel tanks with wild yeast. After primary fermentation, the wine is aged in a mix of French oak barrels for 12 months, imparting just the right notes of oakiness.

My Thoughts

When I think of Sonoma Coast, I immediately think of the Pinot Noir. The cool ocean breezes create the perfect growing environment just like they do in Burgundy, it’s a happy place for the fickle Pinot Noir grape. Pair that with some cold soaking and you’ve got yourself a match made in wine heaven. It’s crazy to think that it took until the 90s for the area to embrace this luscious little purple berry.

In The Glass

When you pour yourself a glass of the 2018 Valravn Sonoma County Pinot Noir, you’ll notice it has a deep garnet color which is just gorgeous. Some might mistake it for ruby, but the Pinot purist in me won’t allow me to go that far. It’s a medium to heavier-bodied pinot, allowing the dominance of that beautiful Russia River fruit to shine through.

On The Nose

And on the nose? Fruit, fruit, and more fruit! Complex layers of blackberry jam, strawberry, and spicy notes of cinnamon and earl grey are offset with hints of rose petals and a whisper of minerality. It’s well-integrated, providing a little something for everyone.

On Your Pallet

As for texture, there’s definitely some going on here -however the tannins are wonderfully soft and well-balanced. You can taste the oak, but it’s not too exuberant (if such a thing even exists). On the palate, it’s exceptional. Over delivering for its price range, which is usually around $25-30. The black fruit flavors get balanced out by Asian spice and black tea flavors, and you can pick up hints of black currant and dark cherry in the mid pallet. It’s no surprise that this Pinot Noir consistently scores 90+ year after year from many esteemed wine critics.

Critics Score

90PTS- WS

Focused on vineyards in the Russian River Valley, this has simple red cherry flavors, light tannins and gentle elegance. There’s length and substance to that red fruit and spice, and the price makes this a wine to buy by the case.” – Josh Greene

Learn More About: Rob Fisher | Valravn