Bryce Cutrer-Jones is the owner. He made his mark at the famous local winery, Sonoma-Cutrer. After selling his interest he bought land from the Hallberg family. Originally zinfandel was planted during prohibition and then apples. Once he acquired the land he pulled the orchard and started planting pinot. He set about to bring out the best the grape had to offer, so he gave the vines the best he could offer - organic farm, dry farming and no pesticide/herbicide spraying. He wants to let the grapes grow and draw from the terroir.
When my wife and I visited the winery I had the pleasure of being able to have a brief conversation with Bryce while sitting in their beautiful open room viewing the vineyard. He is a humble man who speaks with deep love of what he does. When trying to give him a compliment he deflected it with a powerful statement - "God makes the wine." Indeed. But he uses this man's hand to do so.
Now to the experience. They built a beautiful retro industrial building and recently expanded it to include a well-appointed and open tasting room. With a movable window wall you get to see who the real star of the show is - the vineyard. You can feel the coastal breeze, even on a hot summer day, which is what gives us some of the magic for this area and the Russian River Valley.
Walking up you are greeted by tasting room staff and they pour you a glass of sangnee. You don't initially realize it, but your experience has begun. That wine you are holding is the key to the door at Emeritus. They encourage you to sit wherever you are comfortable and then join you there for a more intimate experience with the wine.
The sangnee is delicious. Ruby Red is it's name and it is very limited production. (in fact, when I went out a second time to purchase a bottle it was wine club restricted due to dwindling stock.) For those not familiar with sangnee, it is the original style of rose. It is the first free run of juice, as opposed to blending or pressing, to produce rose.
The three pinots were clear examples of their individual terroirs - sonoma coast near Annapolis and higher elevation, russian river valley and then sonoma coast/petaluma wind gap. (At the time of tasting the petaluma wind gap was a future AVA, but has since been approved.)
All are amazing.
Hallberg vineyard may sound familiar to a few fellow pinotphiles because Bryce sells some grapes to wineries such as Joseph Jewel, Gary Farrel and Sherrer. Of course, they keep the best grapes for themselves. I am truly glad they do.
Check it out!
Check it out!
