“This iconic vineyard is situated on the northern border of the Russian River Valley where temperatures are slightly warmer, allowing the grapes to develop concentrated red fruit flavors and velvety tannins. A little whole cluster inclusion works well here since the wine naturally possesses earthy, complex flavors that make it a great match for grilled meats.”
– Theresa Heredia, Winemaker
WINEMAKER NOTES
In 1956, Helen and Charles Bacigalupi purchased 121 acres of prime vineyard land along Westside Road in the heart of Russian River Valley. And, in 1964, they were among the first in the area to plant Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The Bacigalupi family grapes garnered fame in 1976 when they were used to make Chateau Montelena’s winning entry in that year’s Paris Tasting. Our Pinot Noir grapes for the 2016 release came from one of the newer vineyards called Frost Ranch, located just across the road from the original plantings. The ranch was purchased by the Bacigalupi family in 1993 and Block 9 is planted entirely to Wente selection Pinot Noir, which produces a classically elegant Russian River Pinot Noir.
FLAVORS
TASTE PROFILE
ABOUT GARY FARRELL WINERY
It’s hard to imagine a better vantage point from which to savor the many splendors of the Russian River Valley than Gary Farrell Winery. Perched on a hillside providing panoramic views of the forested valley below, its wines epitomize the best of the appellation and the passion and pioneering spirit of its visionary founder, Gary Farrell, a California winemaking icon. Gary Farrell Winery has long specialized in Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from some of the top vineyards in the Russian River Valley, and the wines remain as elegant, complex expressions of their vineyard origins.
Beginning in the late 1970s, while working with seminal Russian River Valley vintners such as Davis Bynum, Joe Rochioli, Tom Dehlinger and Robert Stemmler, Gary Farrell was instrumental in showcasing the Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays of the nascent Russian River Valley AVA, a picturesque, redwood-studded wine region 55 miles north of San Francisco whose mighty river cuts a scenic swath through the heart of Sonoma County. He made his first wine under the Gary Farrell label in 1982 and built the winery into one of the most acclaimed producers of small-lot Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays in the Russian River Valley. Although he sold the winery in 2004, Gary Farrell Winery continues its collaborative partnerships with top growers and its commitment to wines that capture the unique character of the vineyard.