Dutton-Goldfield Autumn 2024 Releases | i-WineReview Articles
The California coast’s 2022 vintage began with welcome winter rains, an early bud break and moderate temperatures until the (now) usual Labor Day heat spike, which put to the test the skills of growers to protect fruit and of winemakers to harvest at optimal ripeness. As they say, the proof is in the pudding, or wine in this case, and the Dutton-Goldfield wines from the 2022 vintage are showing very well. Our reviews follow.
The Wines
Dutton Goldfield 2022 Chardonnay Dutton Ranch Russian River Valley ($25) 92 Medium yellow gold. Aromas of lemon cream, ripe stone fruit and the slightest hint of dulce de leche. Creamy in texture with lively, mouthwatering acidity that entices another sip. Medium weight but densely flavored with a very long, rich finish. It’s a blend of old vine, heritage clone vineyards barrel fermented using both native and inoculated yeast with full malo; aged 10 months in 40% new French oak. pH 3.33, 13.5% alc. It’s an outstanding value at its usual price of $40. Now on sale for $25, it’s a steal.
Dutton Goldfield 2022 Chardonnay Rued Vineyard Russian River Valley ($65) 94 The Rued Vineyard Chardonnay opens with scents of cling peach, lemon oil, honeysuckle and a faint back note of hazelnut. This is a hedonistic wine: fleshy, suave texture with rich layered flavors, steely acidity and a firm edged finish. Sourced from a dry farmed, east facing hillside vineyard planted by Warren Dutton in 1969 to Old Wente selection and a musqué selection now called the Rued Clone. All barrel fermented using mostly native yeast with full malo; aged 18 months in 44% new French oak barrels. pH 3.37, 13.9% alc.
Dutton Goldfield 2022 Pinot Noir Dutton Ranch Russian River Valley ($30) 93 Single vineyard wines have a certain cache, but vineyard blends can be just as good and cost less. This 2022 vintage Pinot Noir is sourced from several of the Dutton Ranch’s eighty vineyards. It’s a crowd pleaser with an immediate appeal due to its rich flavors, full mouth feel, and mouthwatering acidity. Each vineyard block is separately cold soaked 5 days and fermented in small open top fermenters, then racked to 40% new French oak for aging, blended, and then aged another 6 months for a total of 10 months in oak. pH 3.50, 13.5% alc. It usually sells for $50 but is now on sale at just $30, which is what we would call a bargain.
Dutton Goldfield 2022 Pinot Noir Angel Camp Vineyard Anderson Valley ($74) 95 This Pinot Noir sourced from the cool, western end of the Anderson Valley offers lovely red berry fruit aromas and flavors typical of the region. In addition, the bouquet shows smoky minerals and touches of wild herbs. Round and full in the mouth, it also has superb balance and freshness and an overall sense of refinement. Grapes are cold soaked 5 days and fermented in open top fermenters; matured 17 months in 40% new French ok. pH 3.60, 14.1% alc. The 10-acre Angel Camp Vineyard is located west of Philo above the Navarro River; it’s planted to several Dijon and Heritage clones.
Dutton Goldfield 2022 Pinot Noir Dutton Ranch Emerald Ridge Vineyard Green Valley of Russian River Valley ($78) 95 This is an elegant wine beginning with a subtly perfumed bouquet of dark fruit, garden herbs and minerals. It has a silky mouth feel and nicely integrated flavors on a well-structured palate with round tannins and a long finish. Words don’t do justice to describing this wine. Sourced from the Emerald Ridge Vineyard, each clone is separately cold soaked and fermented in open top fermenters; matured a total of 17 months in 50% new French oak. pH 3.56, 14.1% alc. Emerald Ridge is on an east facing slope of Goldridge sandy loam soils in the middle of Green Valley; it was planted to several clones in 2001.
Dutton Goldfield 2022 Pinot Noir McDougall Vineyard Fort Ross – Seaview ($78) 95 This Pinot Noir comes from a sunny, high elevation vineyard overlooking the cold Pacific Ocean. Spicy purple, dark berries and a hint of sweet toasty oak show on the nose followed by a densely fruited, silky attack and a richly flavored, elegant palate. There’s perfect acid balance. A great pairing with salmon. Cold soaked 7 days and fermented with a small amount of whole clusters; aged 18 months in 50% new French oak. pH 3.56, 14.1% alc. In 1998, Mac McDougall planted this 9-acre vineyard at 1100? altitude to 2 Dijon clones; the dark-colored grapes have thick skins and low yields. Cold soaked 7 days with a small amount of whole clusters; aged a total of 18 months in 50% new French oak.
Dutton Goldfield 2022 Pinot Noir 5 Wells Vineyard Russian River Valley ($74) 93+ This wine comes from the Sebastopol Hills Hills in the far southwest of the Russian River Valley. It offers a spicy nose revealing ripe red berry and cherry fruit. Clean and crisp on the attack, the wine is focused with integrated tannins, good concentration, and a persistent finish with lingering toasty oak notes. Each block is hand sorted, destemmed and cold soaked 5 days and fermented in small open top fermenters; aged 17 months in 40% new French oak. pH 3.56, 14.1% alc.
photo credit: drwinkler
