New Russian River Valley Winery Expands Portfolio with Inaugural 2018 Reserve Wines
WINDSOR, Calif. (November 9, 2020) – Bricoleur Vineyards, Russian River Valley’s newest wine country retreat, is excited to announce the debut release of its Special Selection wines: the 2018 Estate Chardonnay Special Selection and the 2018 Estate Pinot Noir Special Selection. Just released, these inaugural wines are crafted under the direction of consulting winemaker Cary Gott and assistant winemaker Tom Pierson and mark the first reserve wines from Bricoleur Vineyards’ Russian River estate.
“2020 certainly has been an eventful year for everyone in the wine industry, but that hasn’t changed our focus on delivering high quality wines, so we are especially proud and excited about adding these wines to our growing portfolio given all the obstacles we’ve had to overcome,” said CEO and founder Mark Hanson. “The Special Selection labels represents the crème de la crème from our estate property here in Windsor and we’re thrilled to share these exquisite wines just in time for the upcoming holiday season.”
Sourced exclusively from Bricoleur’s Russian River estate vineyards, these wines earn the name “Special Selection” from a rigorous barrel selection process. Bricoleur’s winemaking team set out to pinpoint those showcasing the most elegant expression of the estate’s terroir. The exercise began with over forty barrels of wine across four unique lots comprised of five Pinot Noir clones grown on the property. Eight barrels were eventually chosen to make the final blend of this reserve wine; five new French Oak and three neutral French Oak barrels. The eight barrels were aged for an additional four months in the cellar and the wine was unfiltered prior to bottling.
The 2018 Estate Pinot Noir Special Selection shows notes of red currant, lavender, and dark dry cherry before refined tannins frame a smooth palate with flavors of strawberry and cherry cola. A beautiful style of Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, it is delicious to drink now and will age gracefully for years to come. With only 185 cases produced, the 2018 Pinot Noir Special Selection has an SRP of $70/bottle and $225/magnum.
The 2018 Estate Chardonnay Special Selection was aged sur lie in barrel for sixteen months with frequent battonage to add depth and texture. The wine is a rich gold color and has notes of caramel, lemon rind, and citrus blossom that burst from the glass. The pallet offers refreshing flavors of green melon coupled with a savory butterscotch finish. Only 86 cases of the 2018 Special Reserve Chardonnay were made with an SRP of $55/bottle.
Bricoleur Vineyards was founded by San Francisco Bay Area natives Mark and Elizabeth Hanson and daughter Sarah Hanson Citron. The winery is quickly becoming known for producing sustainably farmed, limited-production wines sourced primarily from its Bricoleur Vineyards estate property in Windsor and from the family’s Kick Ranch, a highly regarded vineyard in Sonoma County.
Officially opening to the public in May of this year, the winery is an ambitious vision meticulously and lovingly brought to fruition by the Hanson family. The 40-acre Windsor estate was designed as the ideal location for intimate gatherings with friends and family, corporate retreats, or as a home base for Wine Country touring. Abundant with premium Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vineyards, groves of olive trees, intimate picnic spots, magnificent gardens and vine-covered trellises, a charming stone pavilion, bocce ball courts, yoga classes overlooking the vineyards, a refurbished historic milk barn and the newly completed Winery Barn. Farm-to-table pairings by Executive Chef Shane McAnelly highlight the winery’s 12 stand-out varietals from prized vineyard sites.
Bricoleur Vineyards is open to the public Thursday through Monday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with reservations required for all wine-paired culinary experiences. A rotating series of events and programming are announced throughout the year. Located at 7394 Starr Road in Windsor, Bricoleur Vineyards can be reached by calling (707) 857-5700, emailing info@bricoleurvineyards.com or visiting www.bricoleurvineyards.com.
About Bricoleur Vineyards
Bricoleur Vineyards is a unique wine country retreat nestled in the Russian River Valley in Windsor, California, about an hour north of San Francisco. Visitors can visit the newly renovated Winery Barn to enjoy Bricoleur Vineyard’s hand-crafted, estate-grown wines or an elaborate, wine and culinary experience guided by celebrated local Executive Chef Shane McAnelly. The 40-acre estate features a number of picturesque gathering places to relax and create memorable experiences, such as a picnic in the stone pavilion overlooking the rows of Chardonnay, strolling in the rose gardens admiring the vast array of colorful and fragrant roses, playing a friendly game of bocce ball, or simply enjoying one’s family and friends while watching the ducks and native birds by one of two serene ponds Family owned by Bay Area natives Mark and Elizabeth Hanson and daughter Sarah Hanson Citron, Bricoleur Vineyards is Sonoma County’s hidden gem, dedicated to enjoying the beauty of Sonoma County while building meaningful connections and communities.
