Dec 30, 2022
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Portalupi
| Owner(s) | Jane Borges, Timothy Borges |
| Web site | www.portalupiwine.com |
| Link to this site |
Husband and wife team with thirty years of experience in premium wine business started their own label in 2002 featuring a Russian River Valley Pinot Noir (from an unnamed but venerated vineyard source on Westside Road that starts with an R) and Zinfandel, Barbara and Bianco.
The wines are sold on the website with very limited retail distribution.
Articles About Portalupi
Reviewed Wines
2014 Portalupi Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
15.2% alc., 327 cases, $30. Harvest Brix 25.0º. Clones
are Martini 13 and 15, and Wädenswil 2A. Aged 14 months in French oak barrels, 20% new, 60% 1-
year-old and 20% 2-year-old, medium plus toast.
·
Moderate reddish purple color in the glass. The
very ripe black fruit aromas are slightly stewed and are accompanied by scents of forest floor and
oak bark. Full-bodied, with husky tannins, in a fruit-driven style featuring a rich core of well ripened
black cherry fruit accented with a savory mushroom note. The alcohol is balanced by the hedonistic
core of fruit and tannins and the wine shows no trace of alcoholic heat on the finish.
Score: 89.
Reviewed December 1, 2016
ARTICLE »
2014 Portalupi Dolinsek Ranch Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
15.0% alc., 118 cases, $40. Dijon clones.
Harvest Brix 25.0º. Aged 14 months in French oak barrels, 40% new, 40% 1-year-old, and 20% 2-year-old.
·
Moderately dark reddish purple color in the glass. Aromas of dark berry mash, spice, seasoned oak and prune
lead off. Very ripe and sappy, even slightly roasted dark fruits are featured backed by modest tannins. There is
a welcome hint of oak spice seasoning, the mouthfeel is silky, and the wine displays admirable balance. If you
don’t mind fruit pushed to maximum ripeness, you will like this nicely crafted wine that is stylistically unique.
Score: 89.
Reviewed December 1, 2016
ARTICLE »
2013 Portalupi Russell Family Vineyard Paso Robles Pinot Noir
15.5% alc., 240 cases, $60. Vineyard is
located on the western side of Highway 101 and is planted in shallow, rocky calcareous soil. The site
experiences large temperature variations from highs of 90 degrees to lows of 40 degrees. Harvest Brix 27º.
Pommard and Dijon clones. Aged 12 months in Francois Frère French oak barrels, 25% new, 75% 1-year-old
medium plus toast.
·
Moderately dark reddish purple color in the glass. Aromas of nutty oak and earthy flora
obscure any fruit on the nose. Lush, plush and fruit-driven, this is an opulent wine featuring black raspberry and
blackberry flavors veering to raisin. This wine is reflective of this warm site and I have always found wines from
this vineyard to be very tannic like this wine is and more like Zinfandel in character. That said, this wine does
honestly reflect the terroir, and seems to stay relatively balanced.
Score: 89.
Reviewed December 1, 2016
ARTICLE »
2009 Portalupi Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.2% alc., pH 3.47, TA 0.49, $48. Sourced from Rochioli
Vineyard. Aged 18 months in French oak barrels. Winemaker Tim Borges.
·
Moderate reddish-purple color in
the glass. Brooding aromas of dark stone fruits with a hint of oak, becoming very ripe in character over time in
the glass. Plush core of black cherry fruit and cassis with supportive cola and spice flavors backed by modest
tannins, finishing with some intensity and character. The Rochioli Vineyard trait shows up in this wine.
Good (+).
Reviewed June 23, 2013
ARTICLE »
2006 Portalupi Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., 328 cases, $42. Crafted by Tim
Borges from Rochioli fruit.
·
Restrained scent of black cherries and toasty oak.
Beautiful raspberry and cherry fruit, lightly oaked and softly presented with noticeable
but ripe tannins. Very classy like a demurely dressed woman.
Reviewed November 17, 2008
ARTICLE »
2005 Portalupi Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.3% alc., $38. I really liked this wine upon release but this revisit was not as special (oh, the vagaries
of Pinot Noir).
·
Cherry and cranberry perfume leading to cherry flavors enhanced by deft oak. A decent wine which is well-made, but I can’t go ga-ga over it.
Reviewed November 12, 2007
ARTICLE »
2005 Portalupi Wine Company Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.3% alc., 672 cases, $38. This is packaged in one heavy bottle—
be careful trying to pour a glass with one hand. The wine, however,
is not as heavy handed.
·
Light- to mediumbodied (more Volnay than Gevrey-Chambertain), the red and blue fruits and loamy highlights lead to a cherry kiss on a long finish. What is most striking here is the creamy texture which is Pinot Noir
at is best. The balance is impeccable. The French would say merci!, I say pour me another generous glass, now.
Reviewed May 13, 2007
ARTICLE »
2014 Portalupi Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
15.2% alc., 327 cases, $30. Harvest Brix 25.0º. Clones are Martini 13 and 15, and Wädenswil 2A. Aged 14 months in French oak barrels, 20% new, 60% 1- year-old and 20% 2-year-old, medium plus toast. · Moderate reddish purple color in the glass. The very ripe black fruit aromas are slightly stewed and are accompanied by scents of forest floor and oak bark. Full-bodied, with husky tannins, in a fruit-driven style featuring a rich core of well ripened black cherry fruit accented with a savory mushroom note. The alcohol is balanced by the hedonistic core of fruit and tannins and the wine shows no trace of alcoholic heat on the finish. Score: 89. Reviewed December 1, 2016 ARTICLE »
2014 Portalupi Dolinsek Ranch Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
15.0% alc., 118 cases, $40. Dijon clones. Harvest Brix 25.0º. Aged 14 months in French oak barrels, 40% new, 40% 1-year-old, and 20% 2-year-old. · Moderately dark reddish purple color in the glass. Aromas of dark berry mash, spice, seasoned oak and prune lead off. Very ripe and sappy, even slightly roasted dark fruits are featured backed by modest tannins. There is a welcome hint of oak spice seasoning, the mouthfeel is silky, and the wine displays admirable balance. If you don’t mind fruit pushed to maximum ripeness, you will like this nicely crafted wine that is stylistically unique. Score: 89. Reviewed December 1, 2016 ARTICLE »
2013 Portalupi Russell Family Vineyard Paso Robles Pinot Noir
15.5% alc., 240 cases, $60. Vineyard is located on the western side of Highway 101 and is planted in shallow, rocky calcareous soil. The site experiences large temperature variations from highs of 90 degrees to lows of 40 degrees. Harvest Brix 27º. Pommard and Dijon clones. Aged 12 months in Francois Frère French oak barrels, 25% new, 75% 1-year-old medium plus toast. · Moderately dark reddish purple color in the glass. Aromas of nutty oak and earthy flora obscure any fruit on the nose. Lush, plush and fruit-driven, this is an opulent wine featuring black raspberry and blackberry flavors veering to raisin. This wine is reflective of this warm site and I have always found wines from this vineyard to be very tannic like this wine is and more like Zinfandel in character. That said, this wine does honestly reflect the terroir, and seems to stay relatively balanced. Score: 89. Reviewed December 1, 2016 ARTICLE »
2009 Portalupi Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.2% alc., pH 3.47, TA 0.49, $48. Sourced from Rochioli Vineyard. Aged 18 months in French oak barrels. Winemaker Tim Borges. · Moderate reddish-purple color in the glass. Brooding aromas of dark stone fruits with a hint of oak, becoming very ripe in character over time in the glass. Plush core of black cherry fruit and cassis with supportive cola and spice flavors backed by modest tannins, finishing with some intensity and character. The Rochioli Vineyard trait shows up in this wine. Good (+). Reviewed June 23, 2013 ARTICLE »
2006 Portalupi Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., 328 cases, $42. Crafted by Tim Borges from Rochioli fruit. · Restrained scent of black cherries and toasty oak. Beautiful raspberry and cherry fruit, lightly oaked and softly presented with noticeable but ripe tannins. Very classy like a demurely dressed woman. Reviewed November 17, 2008 ARTICLE »
2005 Portalupi Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.3% alc., $38. I really liked this wine upon release but this revisit was not as special (oh, the vagaries of Pinot Noir). · Cherry and cranberry perfume leading to cherry flavors enhanced by deft oak. A decent wine which is well-made, but I can’t go ga-ga over it. Reviewed November 12, 2007 ARTICLE »
2005 Portalupi Wine Company Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
14.3% alc., 672 cases, $38. This is packaged in one heavy bottle— be careful trying to pour a glass with one hand. The wine, however, is not as heavy handed. · Light- to mediumbodied (more Volnay than Gevrey-Chambertain), the red and blue fruits and loamy highlights lead to a cherry kiss on a long finish. What is most striking here is the creamy texture which is Pinot Noir at is best. The balance is impeccable. The French would say merci!, I say pour me another generous glass, now. Reviewed May 13, 2007 ARTICLE »