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In 2003, Rutz Cellars submitted six wines to
Wine Enthusiast Magazine for review.
Imagine our excitement when all six reviews
appeared in the December 1, 2003 issue
with scores of 90 points or higher!
Here's what the magazine said about our wine:
93
TOP 100 WINES OF THE YEAR - #52
Rutz
2000 Maison Grand Cru Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley); $25.
How lush and delicious this wine is! Juicy
and rich in the mouth, meaty and full-bodied and quite acidic, yet the
texture is light as feather. The complex flavors range from blackberry and
cherry through dried herbs to sautéed mushrooms and soy, with a honey-
sweet finish. Sheer delight, textbook Russian River Valley Pinot
Noir.
91
EDITOR'S CHOICE
Rutz 2001 Pinot Noir
(Sonoma Coast); $18.
An interesting wine
that straddles the line between herbal-earthy and richly ripe. Now it
suggests black cherries and raspberries, now mushrooms and soy. The
balance is perfect, with crisp acidity, silky, lush tannins and a bit of
heat from alcohol. Turns spicy on the finish. Seductive, and as good as
many Pinots that cost far more. 92
Rutz 2000 Dutton Ranch
Chardonnay (Russian River Valley); $35.
A brilliant evocation of
Russian River Chard, beginning with the strong fruit. Flavors veer toward
guava, nectarine and breadfruit, with plenty of Oriental spices. Oak and
lees provide creamy complexities, but are in balance. Finally, wonderfully
bright acidity undergirds the structure. 90
Rutz 2000 Chardonnay
(Russian River Valley); $18.
Bright, crisp and really
likeable, not just another me-too oaky monster. Well etched fruity flavors
of tart green apples, nectarine and guava are balanced with brilliant
acids and just the right amount of smoky oak barrels. The spicy finish
goes on for a long time. 90
Rutz 2000 Maison Grand Cru
Chardonnay (Russian River Valley); $25.
Lovely and inviting, a
well-structured wine due to its good acids and sprinkling of dusty
tannins. The flavors are a bit tight, suggesting riper, sweeter citrus
fruits such as tangerines, and the texture is rich and creamy. 90
Rutz 2000 Martinelli Vineyard Pinot Noir (Russian River
Valley); $35. Quite
delicious, like drinking pure velvet and silk, so soft and carressing on
the palate. Rich in flavor, too, with cherry-blackberry, vanilla and
spice. A shade less complex than Rutz’s Maison Grand Cru. |
