2018: Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of Fort Ross Vineyard
Dedicated Farming, Masterful Winemaking, Profound Wines
Recent Reviews
2016 Chardonnay FRV
93 Points - Wine Enthusiast
From a field selection planted to old Hyde and Wente clones, this white has soft rounded corners of caramel oak and vanilla bean. The complex, balanced richness is defined in tropical fruit accented by a brightness of tangerine and white peach. — Virginie Boone
2014 FRV Pinot Noir
93 Points - Wine Enthusiast
Tangy red cherry, rose petal, and spicy cola combine on the palate around softened, silky tannins. Though smooth in feel, the palate still offers plenty of defined structure and elegant acidity. — Virginie Boone
2013 Stagecoach Road Pinot Noir
93 Points - Wine Enthusiast
A brooding texture and fully layered concentration of intense flavor spark the palate & mind in this estate wine, which is showy in cola, bark, black cherry, and black tea. Medium bodied and well made, it finds a balance between its coastal influence, its crisp acidity & the burlier aspects of fruit and weight. — V.B.
2016 "FRV" Chardonnay
91 Points - Wine Advocate, Robert Parker
The 2016 Chardonnay Fort Ross Vineyard gives up notions of warm applesauce, poached pears and honey toast with a waft of lemon peel. The palate is medium-bodied with appealing freshness and plenty of spicy stone fruit and apple flavors, finishing on a honey-nut note. 508 cases produced. –Lisa Perrotti-Brown
2015 Stagecoach Road Pinot Noir
93 Points - Wine Advocate, Robert Parker
Pale to medium ruby-purple in color, the 2015 Stagecoach Road Pinot Noir opens with fragrant notes of violets and rose hips with a core of red and black cherries, stewed rhubarb and underbrush plus a waft of wild thyme. Medium bodied with great intensity and a firm backbone of finely grained tannins and wonderful freshness, it finishes on a compelling minerally note. 121 cases were made. –Lisa Perrotti-Brown
2014 The Terraces Pinot Noir
94 Points - Wine Advocate, Robert Parker
The flagship Pinots at Fort Ross are clearly worth the trade-up. The 2014 Pinot Noir The Terraces reveals a pale to medium ruby-purple color with complex, earthy, herbal and mineral/crushed stones notes over black raspberries, pomegranate, lavender and violets. Light to medium-bodied, the palate is very fine, firm and multilayered, with a seamless backbone and great length. Only 132 cases were made. Drink Date: 2017 - 2025
2016 "FRV" Chardonnay
91 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
The 2016 Chardonnay FRV Fort Ross Vineyard is a beauty. Clean, classic, and medium-bodied, with good acidity as well as notes of buttered orchard fruits and spice, it has plenty of fruit, good balance, and classic Chardonnay profile.
2016 Sea Slopes Pinot Noir
91 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
The 2016 Pinot Noir Sea Slopes is another terrific value from this estate. Cherries, strawberries, spice, and an undeniable salty, marine-like minerality give way to a fresh, elegant medium-bodied effort that shows the cooler, complex style of the Sonoma Coast appelation. Bravo.
2015 Mother of Pearl Chardonnay
94 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
White peach, caramelized citrus, and white flower notes dominate the nose of the 2015 Chardonnay Mother of Pearl Fort Ross Vineyard, which is fresh, vibrant, and pure on the palate. There's a touch of oak, it has integrated acidity, and good purity and elegance. It's a terrific white.
2015 Stagecoach Road Pinot Noir
93 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
More expensive, the 2015 Pinot Noir Stagecoach Fort Ross Vineyard is all Calera clone and spent 10 months in 50% new French oak. It offers a medium ruby, youthful color to go with caramelized currants, tea leaves, dried earth, smoke, and minty aromas and flavors. Its rounded, nicely concentrated, has fine tannin, beautiful elegance and purity, and a great finish. It's the gem of this lineup and is going to drink nicely for upwards of a decade.