Hartford Court, Arrendell Vineyard Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley

Hartford Court · California › Russian River Valley › United States of America

Red · Pinot Noir

Critics

94 /100

Reviews

professional

Vintages

No vintages

No vintage-specific entries have been added for this wine.

Community Reviews

Reviews

94.2

Avg Score

Highest

PNP. Opened nicely in the glass. Beautiful nose of flowers, cranberry and forest floor. Medium bodied, perfect balance. Elegant red fruits and earth. Very long, graceful finish. This is one of the best California Pinots that I have had and it is in a perfect place now. Solid 94 points

2016 vintage

What every one said beforehand is true about this wine today. It just needed a little air before becoming absolutely delicious!

2016 vintage

Sumptuous, perfectly balanced and long. Multifaceted with seamless integration of loganberries, plums and nectarines on the nose. The high alcohol (15%) makes the acidity “disappear” but it goes well with non highly flavoured food. Highly enjoyable now right in the drinking window - no tertiary flavours yet.

2016 vintage

This bottle (#4 of 6) strikes me as more balanced than the prior bottles. Maybe it’s the timing and evolution, or maybe its the setting/mood/and food, or it’s my random palate variation. This is still a big pinot for sure, but the bold black cherry fruit and alcohol seem more in balance with the acid and tannins now. In any case, very enjoyable. Bravo Jeff (winemaker).

2013 vintage

There are BIG pinots and there are small pinots. They are each different, with one style not any better or worse than the other. This is a BIG pinot, unmistakably from the Russian River Valley, with a BIG nose, and flavors of muddled cherries, herbs, cedar, licorice, and spice, and a lingering finish. I didn't find it to be over-extracted but it's definitely not delicate (more like Belle Glos). I served it with a simply prepared cast iron duck breast …

2013 vintage

Dark fruits and high alcohol. A bit over extracted for my personal preference. Still enjoyable but this is a powerful Pinot noir rather than a Pinot of great elegance.

2013 vintage

Outstanding. Lush raspberry and blackberries upon the first sip, then moves toward black cherry. Excellent structure and length. Should be even better in another few years.

2016 vintage

DnP: strawberry, raspberry on pour; ruby; medium bodied, excellent grip, brambly finish

2016 vintage

Well-made and enjoyable, but essentially a bit too big for my taste.

2013 vintage

Bonnies birthday

2016 vintage

96 points - Fantastic; best Pinot in ages. Decanted half an hour before first taste. Just everything you want; nose out of the pour, great fruit flavor in balance with acid and long finish. I just let this linger on my tongue for as long as I could without being gross. Drank as appetizer, with grilled salmon and then afterwards. No rush on drinking and may get better, but why wait?

2013 vintage

Precision Pinot with subtle spice oak. Paired very well with rack of Australian Lamb!

2013 vintage

Drinking beautifully right now, but still has legs to sit another 5-7 years at a minimum. There is still some bright fruit presence. Color seems rather unaffected by age. This is the finest expression of Pinot from California that I've ever experienced.

2013 vintage

Quite plush, very well balanced, lovely texture, medium-fine tannins, some purple flowers. Needs time to open up a little, but should be very charming in a couple years. $100.

2016 vintage

A rich and ripe Pinot that is drinking beautifully right now. Ruby red in color, medium in body, nose of sour cherry, underbrush, and thyme. Tastes of raspberry, red licorice, rosemary, and cedar, with a lovely finish hinting of cloves. 15.2% alcohol. This is plainly on the bigger end of the CA Pinot spectrum, but it manages to contain its power in a graceful way. It lacks a bit of the complexity that I find in what I consider to …

2013 vintage

Drank with wine loving friends with three other highly rated California reds, and this won hands down. Very long but balanced. I think it is very satisfying now, but will probably improve.

2013 vintage

Couldn't wait to try a Parker 97 point Pinot theoretically in its window. But I think this is clearly too young to drink. First adjective was "hot" as in alcohol, and that was before i realized this is 15.2% alcohol in a Pinot!! It settled down after a few minutes and had good flavors and balance, but not sure this is a 97 pointer. Definitely needs a couple years.

2013 vintage

Robert Parker

2013 vintage