Just opened a bottle of Thomas George Estates Pinot Noir 2012. I must admit, I am new to this label, so I had no preconceived ideas. And, I was pleasantly delighted to be introduced to this boutique, Russian River Valley wine producer. I found this wine to be an elegant soft, velvety, pinot noir that paired delightfully with a cheese plate including a triple cream brie, aged gouda and smokey blue cheese, I put together for a holiday party.
The Thomas George’s Russian River Valley estate program encompasses 103.1-planted acres, with 55.99 acres and eight clones of Pinot Noir, 27.95 acres, five clones of Chardonnay, 7.14 acres of Grenache, 5.02 acres of Zinfandel, 4 acres of Viognier and 3 acres of Grenache Blanc. The winery is run by the father and son team Thomas and Jeremy Baker and their only vineyard manager, Ulises Valdez, who is widely known in Northern California. The vineyard and winery was originally established by Davis Bynum, the first to bottle a wine using the Russian River Valley appellation designation back in 1973.
Their wines come from three, small lot estates: Baker Ridge, Starr Ridge, Sons & Daughters Ranch and Cresta Ridge, offering a diverse microclimates, soil types, exposures, vine age and clonal material. They focus on Chardonnay and Pinot Noir exclusively. David Bynum's heritage sings elegantly along with Thomas George Estates Pinot Noir 21012. Suggested Retail Price $42.99.
What's in A Name? Russian River Valley
And, in case you were wondering, the Russians did indeed, settle, well, the first non-native settlers, of Sonoma County, around 1812-1841. Finding the region perfect for agriculture, they cultivated the land, sending food and other necessities to their colonies in Alaska. No one knows exactly when the Russians first decided to plant grape vines, though historians believe the early plantings at Fort Ross were the first in Sonoma County -- cultivated long before the Gold Rush of 1849. The Russians abandoned their outpost in Northern California in 1841, but settlers from wine-producing European countries continued to develop the viticulture of the area. (CR: DavisBynum.com
Patti Neumann is Publisher/Founder of CITYPEEK.com & an award-winning 21 C Social Media Publicist/Influencer on food, sips, hospitality & the good life. CITYPEEK.com has its finger on the pulse of what's hot in the world of food, cocktails, luxury & travel trends.
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