Kutch Wines Continued on a Path of Enticing and Uniquely Stylistic Pinot Noir in 2019
The 2019 vintage Pinot Noirs were bottled in December and released in early January. A new single vineyard
wine was added in the 2019 vintage hailing from Mindego Ridge Vineyard located on Alpine Road in the upper
reaches of the Santa Cruz Mountains. The dedicated owners and growers, Dave and Stacey Gollnick have
created a source of Pinot Noir that exceeds Jamie’s high standards and it is expected the vineyard will be part
of the Kutch portfolio for years to come. A 2019 Sonoma County Pinot Noir was also offered for the first time.
This cuvée is meant for early and inexpensive drinking and has been offered to restaurants and loyal mailing
list customers.
I have reviewed Kutch wines favorably dating back to 2006 but Jamie did not realize his stylistic goal until the
2009 vintage. The Pinot Noirs have continued to excel since that vintage. Visit www.princeofpinot.com/
winery/377/ for a history of reviews.
The Sonoma Coast, Bohan Vineyard and Falstaff Vineyard Pinot Noirs were released in January 2020 and the
rest of the 2019 vintage wines will be part of the spring release. Visit www.kutchwines.com to join the mailing
list and access an allocation.
Jamie recently announced that after sixteen vintages of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, he has become a proud
landowner and soon will be planting his own estate vineyard in the spring of 2021. This is the dream of every
winery owner. Just after Thanksgiving in 2020, Jamie found a 12-acre, 100-year-old organically-farmed apple
orchard located in Sebastopol on the Sonoma Coast. Soils are Goldridge and fine-grained marine quartz sandstone.
2019 Kutch Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
13.0% alc., 500 cases, $39. A declassified blend of selected barrels
from McDougall Ranch, Bohan vineyard and Falstaff Vineyard. 75% whole cluster, indigenous yeast
fermentation, natural malolactic bacteria. Aged in used French oak barrels ad bottled unfined and unfiltered.
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Moderately light garnet color in the glass. Complex nose offering aromas of allspice, sap, pipe tobacco, prickly
pear and floral nuance. The nose picks up intensity and interest over time in the glass. Light to mid-weight in
style, featuring flavors of dark red cherry, edible flower, tobacco and dried herbs. Soft and polished in the
mouth with a hint of tannin in the background and juicy acidity. Still fine the following day when tasted from a
previously opened bottle.
Score: 90
2019 Kutch Bohan Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
13.0% alc., 200 cases, $54. Vineyard first planted in
1972 at an elevation of 1400 feet 2.95 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean. Goldridge soil. This wine is sourced
from some of the original Pinot Noir plantings that are on their own rootstock and always dry-farmed.
Fermented 75% whole cluster with indigenous yeast, natural malolactic bacteria, aged in used French oak
barrels and bottled unfined and unfiltered.
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Light garnet color in the glass. Highly pleasurable, whole-clusterinspired
nose giving aromas of red berries and cherries and burnt tobacco. Light to mid-weight in style and
although very gentle and gracious, with flavors of dark red and purple fruits and a slight vegetative undertone.
Good harmony, with a silky texture and a juicy, lip-smacking finish. When re-tasted one and two days after
opening, more fruit intensity on the nose and palate was evident with more finishing purpose.
Score: 92
2019 Kutch Bohan Vineyard Graveyard Block Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
13.0% alc., 100 cases, $54.
Vineyard planted in the early 1970s at an elevation of 1400 feet about 3 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean.
100% de-stemmed, 3-day cold soak, native yeast fermentation and native malolactic fermentation in barrel.
Age sur lie for 15 months in neutral French oak barrels without racking until bottling.
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Moderately light garnet
color in the glass. Initially, aromas of terra-cotta and wet earth are primary with red fruit showing up over time.
More intensity and structure in this bottling, with a core of well-ripened, gutsy purple berry fruit framed by
moderate tannins. Layers of satisfying sap that carry over to a well-fruited and lengthy finish. When tasted the
following day from a previously opened bottle, the nose displayed more vibrant dark red and purple berry fruits
and the tannins had ameliorated. Still fine two days later.
Score: 93
Bohan Vineyard
2019 Kutch Falstaff Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
13.0% alc.,300 cases, $54. A marginal site planted
in 1999 in Goldridge soil at 505 feet and 8.2 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean. Three clones, tiny yields.
Fermented 75% whole cluster with indigenous yeast, natural malolactic bacteria, aged sur lie in used French
oak barrels without racking until blended and bottled.
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Moderate garnet color in the glass. Lovely scent of
purple berry compote and redwood forest. Delicious, mid-weight plus essence of well-spiced boysenberry and
blackberry fruits that seem to be at their peak of ripeness. Firm but not intrusive tannins, silken in mouthfeel,
and a hint of oak in the background. Reserved upon opening, but still displaying the darkest and most intense
fruit experience of the 2019 lineup. The finish is dry and extremely long. When tasted the following day from a
previously opened and re-corked bottle, the fruit really popped on the palate with more integration of tannins.
Two words on the second day: “Oh man.”
Score: 95
Falstaff Vineyard
2019 Kutch McDougall Ranch Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
13.0% alc., 325 cases, $64. An exposed southern slope high
above the fog-line art 1010 feet elevation and 3.5 miles inland
from the Pacific Ocean. Extremely rocky soils of sandstone and
shale. 75% whole cluster native yeast fermentation after a 3-
day cold soak, native malolactic fermentation, aged sur lie for
15 months without racking until blended and bottled. My notes
were the most extensive for this wine indicating it was special.
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Moderate garnet color in the glass. Terrific nose eager to offer
aromas of dark berries, burnt tobacco, sweet pipe smoke and
flower garden. The core of mid-weight olallieberry, black
raspberry and blackberry fruit really engages the drinker. A hint
of tobacco and violets add interest. A firm backbone of tannin is
readily evident initially. When tasted the following day from a
previously opened bottle, the deep aromas of purple berry
compete burnt tobacco and pine sap were ridiculously sensual. The berry fruit gained intensity and seemed to
last on the finish for a minute. This is a young wine that needs time to ease the tannins but the structure
guarantees that this wine will go the distance. McDougall Ranch always stands out in the Kutch lineup. The
finish sends the drinker immediately back for another sip.
Score: 96
Note: I recently opened a bottle of 2016 Kutch McDougall Ranch Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir and went ga-ga.
Loads of spicy black cherry, very suave mouthfeel, and dreamy harmony. Exceptionally good when tasted the
following day from a previously opened bottle. Could be the best Kutch Pinot Noir I have ever experienced!
McDougall Ranch
2019 Kutch Mindego Ridge Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir
12.5% alc., 225 cases, $54. Vines grown in
sandstone, shale, quartz and Goldridge sandy loam soils at 350 to 1400 feet elevation. 75% whole cluster, 3-
day cold soak followed by native yeast fermentation and native malolactic fermentation. Aged sur lie for 15
months in neutral French oak barrels with a single racking when blended and bottled.
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Moderately light garnet
color in the glass. Prodigious aromas of red cherry, exotic spices, dried rose petal and sap soar from the glass
immediately upon opening. The mid-weight red and purple berry fruit coat the mid palate and lingers on the
finish like an arrow stuck in the bullseye. The most forward drinking of the vineyard designates with refined
tannins and a very suave mouth feel. The balance in this wine is spot on. When tasted the following day from a
previously opened and re-corked bottle, the nose was still inviting and spice and cola notes complimented the
fruit core. The wine still wowed me two days later. A profound wine that is good young or possibly better with
age.
Score: 95
Mindego Ridge Vineyard
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