Time flies, as this is the 24th release of DUMOL! I remember meeting Kerry Murphy (who sadly passed away last year in July) way back when he started DuMOL and tasting through the first bottles of what has now turned into a real success story. Andy Smith, his longtime winemaker, rolled up his sleeves and produced what can turn into the best vintage for Dumol ever!
With still lower than normal production levels this vintage will sell out in no time! The 2019 DuMol releases are turning out to be quite spectacular! I would say that several of these may be the best ever from this winery. Look for some rave reviews from the wine critics! As you know DuMOL is always in high demand, you can bet that this means the allocation will sell out quickly.
DuMol 2019 Chloe Chardonnay, Russian River Valley
GGWC 79.99 net item
Jeb Dunnuck 98 Points: “The 2019 Chardonnay Chloe comes from the Russian River, yet it shows an almost Sonoma Coast-like vibrancy and minerality. Deep stone fruits, brioche, honeysuckle, and flower oil notes all define the nose, and it’s beautifully balanced, medium to full-bodied, and incredibly textured, with a drop-dead gorgeous finish. This is another incredible Chardonnay from this estate that ranks with the crème de la creme of the vintage.”
Andy Smith Winemaker: “Our richest 2019 Chardonnay bottling, this wine seamlessly combines three low-yielding classic vineyards which effortlessly provide detail, nuance, power, and finesse. The concentration is offset by lilting acidity, which flickers and fades and provides a counterbalance to all this power.
Deep and intense aromatics of nectarine, apricot, mint leaf, chamomile, and flint. The flavors are expressive and generous with wave upon wave of ripe stone fruits and lemon oil. Layered and expansive, the wine’s deep concentration builds through the palate to a rising finish of mineral-infused acidity and lingering notes of almond and honey. Serve at 58F – not too cold – and drink between 2022 and 2028.“
DuMol 2019 Ryan Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley
GGWC 94.99 net item
Jeb Dunnuck 96 Points: “Another Russian River cuvée, the 2019 Pinot Noir Jentoft Vineyard Ryan is a deeper ruby, translucent color and has a gorgeous array of black raspberry and cherry fruits supported by ample spice box, savory flowers, rose petals, and dried bouquet garni-like nuances. Rich, medium to full-bodied, and fleshy, with the more rounded, supple style of the vintage, it’s ideal for enjoying over the coming 7-8 years, probably longer, but there’s no need to delay gratification more than a year or two.”
Andy Smith Winemaker: “Grown on shallow hillside soils, the wine’s structure has a sharp, youthful edge that creates a pulsating electric character. The cool freshness of the air in this heavily forested site, surrounded by redwoods, translates into a multitude of savory nuances and sweet herbal scents in the wine’s aromas. This is a fascinating and delicious wine from a unique place – a great terroir. Dynamic, lifted tiny berry fruits dominate the aromas which are unmistakably coastal in style, at once cool, dark, and penetrating. There’s a deep fruit intensity to this wine, but it maintains a brightness and mineral focus that is unique to its site. All elements are pushing in the same direction: seamless, focused, and direct. Licorice, macerated cherries, and cassis glide across the palate. A lilting woodsy fragrance lingers. Drink between 2022 and 2032. “
DuMol 2019 Estate Pinot Noir Russian River Valley
GGWC 99.99 net item
Jeb Dunnuck 97 Points: “Moving to the Pinot Noirs, the 2019 Pinot Noir DuMOL Estate Vineyard reveals a deep ruby hue to go with classic notes of ripe black cherries, sappy underbrush, sassafras, and spring flowers. Straight-up gorgeous on the palate as well, it’s medium to full-bodied and has a solid spine of acidity, wonderful depth of fruit, and a great, great finish. It has plenty of up-front appeal yet should cruise for a decade in cold cellars, if not longer.”
Andy Smith Winemaker: “Among my favorites of this vintage, our 2019 Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir is an elegant wine that is long, sleek, and deeply expressive of this coastal ridgetop site. We conducted a strict parcel selection in the vineyard at harvest, then a secondary selection after ten months in barrel, to ensure only the finest fruit comprised this flagship bottling. Over many vintages we have come to expect that this will be our most ageable Pinot bottling, due primarily to the high vine density planting format in the vineyard itself. The wine has both higher acidity and tannin giving great longevity and the concentration of fruit and texture is elevated because each vine has to ripen only a moderate amount of fruit. Aromas and flavors of black cherry, cassis, and the freshest possible raspberries – lifted, intense and elegant. Savory characters of thyme blossom and floral spice overlay a mineral base that is sleek, penetrating, and focused. You can feel the energy of the vines each time you come to the glass. Finishes with deep blackberry fruit and a dusty cocoa edge. Drink between 2022 and 2034. Enjoy a glass over an extended evening to fully appreciate the deep complexity inherent in one of our most site-driven wines. “
DuMoL 2019 Eddie’s Patch Syrah Russian River Valley
GGWC 94.99 net item
Vinous 96 Points: “The 2019 Syrah Eddie’s Patch shows the more savory, pungent site of Russian River Syrah. Blue/purplish fruit, sage, black pepper, licorice and menthol are front and center. The tannins are a bit prominent at this stage, so a few years in the cellar is probably a good idea.”
Jeb Dunnuck 95 Points: “I always love the Syrah from this team, and their 2019 Syrah Eddie’s Patch doesn’t disappoint, revealing a dense purple hue to go with Saint-Joseph-like bright blue fruits, crushed stone, bouquet garni, and bacon fat notes. It’s rich, medium to full-bodied, and beautifully balanced, with enough tannins to warrant 2-3 years of bottle age. It will have 10-15 years of overall longevity.”
Andy Smith Winemaker: “Of the great Syrah vintages in recent memory – 2013, 2015 & 2016 spring to mind – 2019 undoubtedly stands atop the summit of quality. This is one of those rare wines in which vintage, season, and grape variety carved out a perfect equilibrium to form something truly profound. For the first time, we have combined the finest parcels in our two long-term Syrah sources – Hoppe-Kelly & our Green Valley Estate – into a single thrilling wine of grand scale complexity. The resulting wine is simultaneously harmonious, complex, expansive, and ethereal. The wine’s aromas are dark, pure, and irresistible: wild blackberries, spring flowers, graphite, lavender, and cured meat spring from the glass. There’s classic cool climate cracked black pepper and bay laurel. The wine is deeply fruited, chewy and succulent with dark berry fruit pastille and compote flavors. Despite its intensity and obvious power, the wine has a hi-tone brightness and finesse that carries it through to a long lingering finish of licorice spice. A great coastal Syrah. Drink between 2022 and 2034.“
SMALL AMOUNTS OF THE FOLLOWING DUMOL SUMMER RELEASES ARE STILL AVAILABLE:
DuMol 2019 Syrah “Wild Mountainside” Russian River Valley 96 Points
DuMol 2019 Chardonnay “Wester Reach” Russian River Valley 98 Points
DuMol 2019 Pinot Noir “Wester Reach” Russian River Valley 96 Points
Click here or on the links above to order!
Call 415-337-4083 or email frank@goldengatewinecellars.com for availability and priority allocation