Dec 30, 2022
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Vaughn Duffy Wines
| Owner(s) | Vaughn Duffy, Sarah Vaughn |
| Web site | www.vaughnduffywines.com |
| Link to this site |
Matt Duffy was working at Bacchus & Venus in Sausalito, selling wines. Along with his wife, Sara Vaughn, they fell in love with Pinot Noir. Duffy worked a harvest at Siduri and then began winemaking at Vinify, a custom crush winery. In 2009, the couple bought one ton of Pinot Noir grapes and made their first wine under the Vaughn Duffy Wines label.
The 2009 Suacci Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir and 2010 Sonoma County Rose were released in 2011. Stori Vineyard was added to the single-vineyard Pinot Noir lineup in 2013.
The wines are available through a mailing list and on the website. Tasting is by appointment in Santa Rosa.
Articles About Vaughn Duffy Wines
Reviewed Wines
2015 Vaughn Duffy Wines Sonoma County Rosé of Pinot Noir
13.9% alc., pH 3.17, TA 0.74,
616 cases, $20. Released March 2016. Saignée method. 80% Pinot Noir, 16% Syrah and 4%
Zinfandel. 80% aged in neutral French oak barrels, 20% in stainless steel. No malolactic
fermentation.
·
Moderate watermelon color in the glass. Aromas of strawberry, apple, straw and nuts
lead off. More engaging on the palate, with a variety of fruit flavors showing up including cranberry,
watermelon, apple and blood orange augmented nicely by a savory herbal and nutty tone. A good
acid underbelly keeps the wine fresh and vibrant.
Score: 89.
Reviewed October 2, 2016
ARTICLE »
2015 Vaughn Duffy Wines Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.0% alc., $36. A blend of several
vineyard sources.
·
Dark reddish purple color in the glass. A bit youthful and clumsy, but the potential
is evident. The aromas of black cherry liquor and orange zest are shy and the full-bodied flavors of
black cherry and black raspberry are not as expressive as they will be. Deeply concentrated fruit
with balanced tannins and a vibrant acid backbone. The finish is particularly intense and persistent.
Score: 91.
Reviewed October 2, 2016
ARTICLE »
2014 Vaughn Duffy Wines Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.3% alc., pH 3.53, TA 0.60, 225
cases, $36. Released November 2015. A blend of four vineyards (50% Stori, 33% Desmond, 12%
Wren Hop and 5% Suacci). Clones 115, 777 and 667. Vineyard ages 12-15 years. Soils are
Goldridge. Bottled unfined and unfiltered.
·
Moderate reddish purple color in the glass. The nose
initiates a favorable impression with aromas of black cherry, spice and vanilla. Generously endowed
with black cherry fruit that is accented with flavors of cola and spice. Nicely balanced and forward
drinking, with a sweet cherry cordial finish.
Score: 90.
Reviewed October 2, 2016
ARTICLE »
2014 Vaughn Duffy Wines Stori Vineyard Green Valley of Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., pH 3.57, TA 0.59, 74 cases, $48.
Released September 2016. The 2.25-acre Stori Vineyard was planted in
2001 to clone 115. Soils are Goldridge. 100% de-stemmed, 6-day cold
soak, feral yeast fermentation. Aged 17 months in French oak barrels. A
selection of the three best barrels out of twelve.
·
Moderately dark reddish
purple color in the glass. Initially moody, but opening nicely over time in
the glass to revealing engaging aromas of dark stone and berry fruits
and spice. A full-bodied core of charming black cherry, black raspberry
and blueberry fruit flavors back by spice really draw attention.
Impeccable balance, offering both fruit generosity and suavity, finishing
on point. This wine is clearly special.
Score: 93.
Reviewed October 2, 2016
ARTICLE »
2014 Vaughn Duffy Wines Suacci Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
13.9% alc., pH 3.55, TA 0.64, 88
cases, $50. Released March 2015. Sourced from a sustainably-farmed, 6.5-acre vineyard located southwest of
Sebastopol just 10 miles from the Pacific Ocean. The vineyard was planted in 1993 by Charlie Chenoweth to
clones 115 and 777. Harvest Brix 24.1º (115) and 24.4º (777 and 115). Hill Block (115) 100% de-stemmed.
Apartment Block (115 and 777), co-fermented the two clones, 30% whole cluster. Aged 10 months in French
oak barrels, 33% new. Bottled unfined and unfiltered.
·
Dark reddish purple color in the glass. The aromatics
expand over time in the glass, offering hi-tone scents of black cherry, black raspberry, potpourri and a hint of
peppery spices. The flavors echo the nose with a bit of toasty oak seasoning evident in the background.
Middleweight in style, with integrated tannins, a silky texture and an engaging finish of uncommon length.
Score: 92.
Reviewed October 2, 2016
ARTICLE »
2012 Vaughn-Duffy Suacci Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
13.3% alc.,
59 cases, $34.
·
Medium reddish-purple color in the glass. Nicely appointed
nose with deep aromas of dark cherries and berries and baking spices.
Middleweight flavors of boysenberry and plum with a touch of spice and tarry
oak. Velvety smooth in the mouth with restrained tannins and a short, but
enjoyable finish.
Score: 89.
Reviewed December 18, 2013
ARTICLE »
2011 Vaughn Duffy Suacci Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
13.1% alc., 29 cases, $40. Very meager
yields in 2011. Dijon clones.
·
Moderately light reddish-purple color in the glass. Aromas of dark red berries,
spice and smoky oak. Lean and acid-driven, with flavors of cranberries and unripe strawberries, lacking
enough concentration to please and finishing very short. Decent.
Reviewed April 13, 2013
ARTICLE »
2015 Vaughn Duffy Wines Sonoma County Rosé of Pinot Noir
13.9% alc., pH 3.17, TA 0.74, 616 cases, $20. Released March 2016. Saignée method. 80% Pinot Noir, 16% Syrah and 4% Zinfandel. 80% aged in neutral French oak barrels, 20% in stainless steel. No malolactic fermentation. · Moderate watermelon color in the glass. Aromas of strawberry, apple, straw and nuts lead off. More engaging on the palate, with a variety of fruit flavors showing up including cranberry, watermelon, apple and blood orange augmented nicely by a savory herbal and nutty tone. A good acid underbelly keeps the wine fresh and vibrant. Score: 89. Reviewed October 2, 2016 ARTICLE »
2015 Vaughn Duffy Wines Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.0% alc., $36. A blend of several vineyard sources. · Dark reddish purple color in the glass. A bit youthful and clumsy, but the potential is evident. The aromas of black cherry liquor and orange zest are shy and the full-bodied flavors of black cherry and black raspberry are not as expressive as they will be. Deeply concentrated fruit with balanced tannins and a vibrant acid backbone. The finish is particularly intense and persistent. Score: 91. Reviewed October 2, 2016 ARTICLE »
2014 Vaughn Duffy Wines Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.3% alc., pH 3.53, TA 0.60, 225 cases, $36. Released November 2015. A blend of four vineyards (50% Stori, 33% Desmond, 12% Wren Hop and 5% Suacci). Clones 115, 777 and 667. Vineyard ages 12-15 years. Soils are Goldridge. Bottled unfined and unfiltered. · Moderate reddish purple color in the glass. The nose initiates a favorable impression with aromas of black cherry, spice and vanilla. Generously endowed with black cherry fruit that is accented with flavors of cola and spice. Nicely balanced and forward drinking, with a sweet cherry cordial finish. Score: 90. Reviewed October 2, 2016 ARTICLE »
2014 Vaughn Duffy Wines Stori Vineyard Green Valley of Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., pH 3.57, TA 0.59, 74 cases, $48. Released September 2016. The 2.25-acre Stori Vineyard was planted in 2001 to clone 115. Soils are Goldridge. 100% de-stemmed, 6-day cold soak, feral yeast fermentation. Aged 17 months in French oak barrels. A selection of the three best barrels out of twelve. · Moderately dark reddish purple color in the glass. Initially moody, but opening nicely over time in the glass to revealing engaging aromas of dark stone and berry fruits and spice. A full-bodied core of charming black cherry, black raspberry and blueberry fruit flavors back by spice really draw attention. Impeccable balance, offering both fruit generosity and suavity, finishing on point. This wine is clearly special. Score: 93. Reviewed October 2, 2016 ARTICLE »
2014 Vaughn Duffy Wines Suacci Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
13.9% alc., pH 3.55, TA 0.64, 88 cases, $50. Released March 2015. Sourced from a sustainably-farmed, 6.5-acre vineyard located southwest of Sebastopol just 10 miles from the Pacific Ocean. The vineyard was planted in 1993 by Charlie Chenoweth to clones 115 and 777. Harvest Brix 24.1º (115) and 24.4º (777 and 115). Hill Block (115) 100% de-stemmed. Apartment Block (115 and 777), co-fermented the two clones, 30% whole cluster. Aged 10 months in French oak barrels, 33% new. Bottled unfined and unfiltered. · Dark reddish purple color in the glass. The aromatics expand over time in the glass, offering hi-tone scents of black cherry, black raspberry, potpourri and a hint of peppery spices. The flavors echo the nose with a bit of toasty oak seasoning evident in the background. Middleweight in style, with integrated tannins, a silky texture and an engaging finish of uncommon length. Score: 92. Reviewed October 2, 2016 ARTICLE »
2012 Vaughn-Duffy Suacci Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
13.3% alc., 59 cases, $34. · Medium reddish-purple color in the glass. Nicely appointed nose with deep aromas of dark cherries and berries and baking spices. Middleweight flavors of boysenberry and plum with a touch of spice and tarry oak. Velvety smooth in the mouth with restrained tannins and a short, but enjoyable finish. Score: 89. Reviewed December 18, 2013 ARTICLE »
2011 Vaughn Duffy Suacci Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
13.1% alc., 29 cases, $40. Very meager yields in 2011. Dijon clones. · Moderately light reddish-purple color in the glass. Aromas of dark red berries, spice and smoky oak. Lean and acid-driven, with flavors of cranberries and unripe strawberries, lacking enough concentration to please and finishing very short. Decent. Reviewed April 13, 2013 ARTICLE »