Dec 30, 2022
Search This Site:
Churchill Cellars
| Owner(s) | Ken Churchill, Susan Churchill |
| Web site | www.churchill-cellars.com |
| Link to this site |
Articles About Churchill Cellars
Reviewed Wines
2007 Churchill Cellars Bella Luna Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.6% alc., pH 3.59, 120
cases, $45. Dijon clones 115, 459, 667 and 777. Aged 18 months in barrel. Released March 1, 2010.
·
Aromas
of red and black cherries, balsam and menthol. Moderately rich mouthful of dark red stone fruits, an underlying
savory note of herbal oak, healthy, ripe tannins and a big fruity finish. Plenty of fruit front and center, but not
jammy and brought into focus with lively acidity. Good.
Reviewed July 15, 2010
ARTICLE »
2007 Churchill Cellars Leepin Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., pH 3.70, 214 cases, $45.
Released March 1, 2010. Dijon clones 113, 115, 667 and 777. Aged 18 months in barrel.
·
Very shy fruit on the
nose combined with scents of oak and charcoal. Dark cherry and berry core with an earthy underpinning,
sandpaper tannins and a refreshing grip of acidity on the dry finish. Good.
Reviewed July 15, 2010
ARTICLE »
2006 Churchill Cellars Bella Luna Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.95% alc. (labeled 14.5%), pH 3.56, 275 cases, $39. Aged 18 months
in barrel. Dijon clones 115, 459, 667 and 777. Released September 1, 2008.
·
Moderately light garnet color. Bright perfume of strawberries, Bing cherries and
underbrush which fades some over time in the glass with some heat showing
up. Tasty flavors of red cherries and strawberries with soft tannins, an
appealing lift of cherry fruit on the finish, and exemplary finesse. Good.
Reviewed July 15, 2010
ARTICLE »
2006 Churchill Cellars Leepin Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.95%
alc. (labeled 14.5%), pH 3.72, 300 cases, $39. Released September 1, 2008.
Dijon clones 113, 115, 667 and 777. Aged 18 months in barrel.
·
Moderately
light garnet color in the glass. Flashy scents of red berries, berry jam and oak
spice. Lovely marriage of cherry and berry flavors on the palate with
underpinnings of oak, savory herbs and earth tones. A solid wine with
admirable elegance. Very good.
Reviewed July 15, 2010
ARTICLE »
2006 Churchill Cellars Priscella Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.6% alc., pH 3.65, 425 cases, $39. Dijon clones 114, 115, 667 and 777 from
a sustainably farmed vineyard owned by Curt and Valerie Abbott.
·
The terrific
nose draws you in with aromas of black cherries, dark red berries, seasoned
oak and tea. Delicious red cherry and berry core with hints of sandalwood,
toasty oak and cherry skins ending in a smooth finish with a complimentary grip
of citric peel. A charming and easy drinking wine with the most mid palate
richness of the three wines from this vintage. Very good.
Reviewed July 15, 2010
ARTICLE »
2005 Churchill Cellars Bella Luna Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., $45, 233 cases.
A nine day cold soak with 10% whole clusters. Aged 18 months in 50% new
French oak which is air dried for 36 months.
·
Right in step with the luscious
2004 edition. Terrific aromatics featuring candied cherry, spice, and newlysawn
wood. Easily approachable with layers of sweet red Pinot fruit, leather,
mocha, oak and herbs. Fine and creamy in texture with integrated tannins and
impeccable balance. Will only improve with cellaring. The future looks bright
for this young vineyard.
Reviewed October 20, 2007
ARTICLE »
2005 Churchill Cellars Bella Luna Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
$45. The 1-acre Bella Luna Vineyard is the only one in the Russian River Valley
planted with the new Dijon clone 459.
·
The most striking feature of this wine is the
leather and dark chocolate aromas and flavors which are quite unique and attributable
to clone 459.
Reviewed July 30, 2007
ARTICLE »
2004 Churchill Cellars Russian River Valley Blend Pinot Noir
14.1%
alc., 479 cases, $36. This wine is a blend of six Russian River Valley and
Sonoma Coast vineyards. Clones are Dijon 115, 667, 777, Swan and
Pommard 3. 25% whole clusters are added in. Aged in 50% new Tonnellerie
Sirugue oak barrels and 50% seasoned barrels.
·
This is a medium to fullbodied
Pinot Noir with a deep, ruby color. Aromas of damp leaves and dark
stone fruits lead to fruit-driven flavors. The wine is tight and concentrated at
this stage, and although it is fat on the palate, it lacks acidity. As it warms, the
nose and finish deliver a little heat.
Reviewed December 10, 2006
ARTICLE »
2004 Churchill Cellars Bella Luna Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., 124 cases, $45. 15-18% whole clusters. Aging and winemaking
the same as above.
·
The aromatics in this wine are to die for: ripe cherries, vanilla,
and Xmas spice. Tasted over a few hours, the wine kept pumping out
these terrific aromas and I was thoroughly content just to sniff. It was a nose
you could drink. I am convinced that this type of perfume is distinctive and
typical of great Russian River Valley Pinot Noirs. The wine is full-bodied and
rich with red and black fruits and tea flavors, but the nose trumps the flavors at this point. The mouth feel
is luxurious. A slight astringency at the finish will flush out with cellaring. This vineyard is a star in the
making and in the same mold as its neighboring prestigious vineyards such as Olivet Lane and Olivet
Grange.
Reviewed December 10, 2006
ARTICLE »
2007 Churchill Cellars Bella Luna Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.6% alc., pH 3.59, 120 cases, $45. Dijon clones 115, 459, 667 and 777. Aged 18 months in barrel. Released March 1, 2010. · Aromas of red and black cherries, balsam and menthol. Moderately rich mouthful of dark red stone fruits, an underlying savory note of herbal oak, healthy, ripe tannins and a big fruity finish. Plenty of fruit front and center, but not jammy and brought into focus with lively acidity. Good. Reviewed July 15, 2010 ARTICLE »
2007 Churchill Cellars Leepin Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., pH 3.70, 214 cases, $45. Released March 1, 2010. Dijon clones 113, 115, 667 and 777. Aged 18 months in barrel. · Very shy fruit on the nose combined with scents of oak and charcoal. Dark cherry and berry core with an earthy underpinning, sandpaper tannins and a refreshing grip of acidity on the dry finish. Good. Reviewed July 15, 2010 ARTICLE »
2006 Churchill Cellars Bella Luna Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.95% alc. (labeled 14.5%), pH 3.56, 275 cases, $39. Aged 18 months in barrel. Dijon clones 115, 459, 667 and 777. Released September 1, 2008. · Moderately light garnet color. Bright perfume of strawberries, Bing cherries and underbrush which fades some over time in the glass with some heat showing up. Tasty flavors of red cherries and strawberries with soft tannins, an appealing lift of cherry fruit on the finish, and exemplary finesse. Good. Reviewed July 15, 2010 ARTICLE »
2006 Churchill Cellars Leepin Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.95% alc. (labeled 14.5%), pH 3.72, 300 cases, $39. Released September 1, 2008. Dijon clones 113, 115, 667 and 777. Aged 18 months in barrel. · Moderately light garnet color in the glass. Flashy scents of red berries, berry jam and oak spice. Lovely marriage of cherry and berry flavors on the palate with underpinnings of oak, savory herbs and earth tones. A solid wine with admirable elegance. Very good. Reviewed July 15, 2010 ARTICLE »
2006 Churchill Cellars Priscella Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.6% alc., pH 3.65, 425 cases, $39. Dijon clones 114, 115, 667 and 777 from a sustainably farmed vineyard owned by Curt and Valerie Abbott. · The terrific nose draws you in with aromas of black cherries, dark red berries, seasoned oak and tea. Delicious red cherry and berry core with hints of sandalwood, toasty oak and cherry skins ending in a smooth finish with a complimentary grip of citric peel. A charming and easy drinking wine with the most mid palate richness of the three wines from this vintage. Very good. Reviewed July 15, 2010 ARTICLE »
2005 Churchill Cellars Bella Luna Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., $45, 233 cases. A nine day cold soak with 10% whole clusters. Aged 18 months in 50% new French oak which is air dried for 36 months. · Right in step with the luscious 2004 edition. Terrific aromatics featuring candied cherry, spice, and newlysawn wood. Easily approachable with layers of sweet red Pinot fruit, leather, mocha, oak and herbs. Fine and creamy in texture with integrated tannins and impeccable balance. Will only improve with cellaring. The future looks bright for this young vineyard. Reviewed October 20, 2007 ARTICLE »
2005 Churchill Cellars Bella Luna Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
$45. The 1-acre Bella Luna Vineyard is the only one in the Russian River Valley planted with the new Dijon clone 459. · The most striking feature of this wine is the leather and dark chocolate aromas and flavors which are quite unique and attributable to clone 459. Reviewed July 30, 2007 ARTICLE »
2004 Churchill Cellars Russian River Valley Blend Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., 479 cases, $36. This wine is a blend of six Russian River Valley and Sonoma Coast vineyards. Clones are Dijon 115, 667, 777, Swan and Pommard 3. 25% whole clusters are added in. Aged in 50% new Tonnellerie Sirugue oak barrels and 50% seasoned barrels. · This is a medium to fullbodied Pinot Noir with a deep, ruby color. Aromas of damp leaves and dark stone fruits lead to fruit-driven flavors. The wine is tight and concentrated at this stage, and although it is fat on the palate, it lacks acidity. As it warms, the nose and finish deliver a little heat. Reviewed December 10, 2006 ARTICLE »
2004 Churchill Cellars Bella Luna Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., 124 cases, $45. 15-18% whole clusters. Aging and winemaking the same as above. · The aromatics in this wine are to die for: ripe cherries, vanilla, and Xmas spice. Tasted over a few hours, the wine kept pumping out these terrific aromas and I was thoroughly content just to sniff. It was a nose you could drink. I am convinced that this type of perfume is distinctive and typical of great Russian River Valley Pinot Noirs. The wine is full-bodied and rich with red and black fruits and tea flavors, but the nose trumps the flavors at this point. The mouth feel is luxurious. A slight astringency at the finish will flush out with cellaring. This vineyard is a star in the making and in the same mold as its neighboring prestigious vineyards such as Olivet Lane and Olivet Grange. Reviewed December 10, 2006 ARTICLE »