The Winery
I almost hesitate to open with information on the winery instead of the wine, because rarely do places rated “Must See” have wines that are worthy of being rated “Must TASTE!”. But Woodenhead is a delightful exception. The structure shown here serves as office and tasting room for the winery, and it is exactly the sort of experience you’d expect when visiting in friendly-n-funky Forestville, CA.
The town is tiny, a remnant of a Spanish Land Grant to General Vallejo’s son-in-law intended to the Russian fur trappers who had already settled nearby Fort Ross. The town is just 20 miles from the ocean, bisected by the Russian River, and surrounded by trees and an increasing number of vineyards. Simply idyllic.
Kudos
91 Pts: Wine Enthusiast
Gold Medal 2016 SF Chronicle Intl Wine Competition
The Wine
At its biggest and best, Russian River Pinot is as head-turning as Gisele Bundchen opening an Olympic ceremony. This wine is no exception. PLUS, the Woodenhead pinot turns heads without the benefit of a huge stage, loud music, or a 3-minute light show. So it’s got that going for it. Which is nice.
Full of ripe cherry and dark fruit notes, a lick of wet minerals/river rocks and freshly-turned forest earth. It’s a bigger-bodied Pinot despite its modest alcohol (13.7%), largely due to the light touch of oak that allows the ripe fruit to sing solo. Unfiltered, so yes, there will be sediment. It’s fine, it’s fine.
538 cases produced.
