Forbes contributor Tom Hyland selected Gary Farrell Winery as one of three leading California wineries to seek out that “brilliantly capture their specific area’s character and personality regarding Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.” He recommends two single vineyard wines in the story, Olivet Lane Chardonnay 2018 and Hallberg Vineyard Pinot Noir 2017.
Hyland says that Gary Farrell’s legacy continues through the winemaking of Theresa Heredia, who produces Pinot Noir and Chardonnay with “textbook Russian River character, and always have a backbone of lively acidity, and perhaps most importantly, display terrific overall harmony.”
The Olivet Lane Chardonnay is described as offering “aromas of lemon oil, dried peach and hints of honey and butter. Medium-full with ripe, slightly lush fruit, good acidity, ample wood notes and a complex finish with good length.” The Hallberg Pinot Noir features “textbook aromas of bing cherry, wild strawberry and turmeric, with a hint of black tea. Medium-full with very good depth of fruit, well-integrated wood notes, medium-weight tannins, good acidity, and notes of black cherry and nutmeg in the finish.”
He offers suggested food pairings and additional descriptors for both wines in the full story HERE
GFW_Forbes_8.27.21Related Wines
Gary Farrell Winery
Gary Farrell Winery Olivet Lane Chardonnay 2018
Russian River Valley, California
Pellegrini’s Olivet Lane Vineyard was planted in 1975 to Wente selection on AXR rootstock. The vineyard sits on 65 acres of sloping bench land in the Santa Rosa Plain, in between the warmer Westside Road region and the cooler Green Valley,where warm summer days are moderated by cool breezes and chilly evening temperatures. The combination of low temperatures, regular fog intrusion and well drained loam, clay soils create an excellent environment for growing Chardonnay that develop cool-climate characteristics and impeccable acid at fairly low sugars.The wines from this vineyard simultaneously express power and finesse, and they do so with tremendous balance.
Gary Farrell Winery
Gary Farrell Winery Hallberg Vineyard Pinot Noir 2017
Russian River Valley, California
Named for its previous owners, the 100-acre Hallberg Vineyard is today owned and managed by wine industry veterans including vineyard manager Kirk Lokka. Nestled in the Green Valley sub-appellation, the site enjoys refreshing daytime breezes and cool nighttime temperatures. The strong marine influence means less severe daily temperature shifts so the vines never completely shut down, producing fruit with deep, dark color, great structure, silky tannins, darker fruit flavors and earthy characteristics. This blend is a composition of many of the best blocks on this cool, foggy vineyard site, which include clones 667, 777, 828, Pommard and a mysterious “suitcase” selection.
Related Producers
Gary Farrell Winery
Russian River Valley, California
For over 40 years, Gary Farrell Winery has crafted small-lot artisan wines capturing balance and stylistic elegance from some of the finest vineyard sites in the Russian River Valley. Since 2014, the current owners have been dedicated to enhancing Gary Farrell’s legacy with a single-minded focus on quality, relying on rigorous vineyard selection, outstanding grower relationships and superior quality fruit.