The Herzog Special Reserve Pinot Noir 2024 comes to us from California's Clarksburg AVA (American Viticultural Area) courtesy of our longtime friends over at Herzog Wine Cellars. Herzog is a historic winery, with over 200 years of expertise in the industry, specializing in affordably priced, premium kosher wines.
The bottle we're reviewing today is targeted towards New World Pinot Noir enthusiasts who prefer bright fruit notes over rustic earthiness, as well as kosher wine consumers, particularly those interested in premium reds.
If you fall into either of those camps, read on for tasting notes, an overview of the winery and region, as well as my review and pairing suggestions. Now, let's get to it.
Wine Overview
Quick Facts
Winery: Herzog Wine Cellars is a historic, family-owned winery located in Oxnard, California. It is widely recognized as one of the world's premier producers of luxury kosher wines. The winery itself is a state-of-the-art facility combining centuries of European winemaking tradition with modern Californian techniques and technology.
History: The winery's legacy began over 200 years ago in Slovakia, then a part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The family produced such high-quality wine that "The Emperor Himself" - Franz Josef the First - awarded the Herzog family the title of Baron. The Herzog family fled Europe during WWII and relocated to New York, eventually expanding production to California in 1985.
Grape Varietals: This wine is produced from Pinot Noir, sourced from small-lot vineyards in Clarksburg, California.
ABV: 14% alcohol by volume.
Price: As of this review, this wine costs about $40 USD.
Region - Clarksburg AVA, California
The grapes are sourced from small-lot vineyards in Clarksburg, a rural American Viticultural Area (AVA) just south of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. Although the Central Valley can experience incredibly hot summer days, Clarksburg is heavily moderated by cold fog and ocean winds pulling through the San Francisco Bay, which drops nighttime temperatures down into the 50s. This massive temperature drop slows down the grapes' metabolism during the night, preserving the grapes' acidity and brightness. In addition, the vineyards themselves sit along the winding Sacramento River on deep beds of loam, silt, and mineral-rich clay, which yields grapes that are highly balanced and elegant in character, rather than overwhelming concentrations of jammy notes.
Aromatic and Tasting Notes
On the Nose
Off the top of the glass, there are notes of fresh blueberry and raspberry. These aromas waft off the top of the glass in layers, introducing themselves one after the other, interwoven with lighter fruit essences, especially apricot and peach. There is a distinct lack of anything smoky or earthy.
On the Palate
On the palate, the words that come to mind are clean and bright. The mouthfeel is very smooth, carried on a light-to-medium body, while avoiding any syrupy or jammy sensations. There are flavors of strawberry preserve laced throughout, with just a mild hint of tart raspberry and cherry lingering in the background.
Finish
Smooth and velvety, leaving behind subtle cocoa, cedar, and vanilla, evidencing its oak aging. Delicious.
Wine Score
This is a thoroughly approachable Californian Pinot Noir, with a finish that lacks any intense concentrations of flavor, an aromatic profile that doesn't overwhelm, and a palate that makes this an ideal entertaining pick. With all of that considered, I'll award this bottle a very respectable 91. Excellent.
Food Pairings
- Seared Salmon: Pinot Noir and seared salmon are a classic match. This wine's tart raspberry and cherry notes act similarly to a generous squeeze of lemon or to a berry reduction over the fish, working to help cut through the fat while complementing the fish's natural flavors. However, be sure to avoid heavy or overly sweet glazes, which will make the fruit in the wine taste flat or even sour.
- Roast Duck: Perhaps the defining feature of duck is its rich, fatty layer that caramelizes and works to help develop the bird's wild-yet-succulent taste. These qualities mean that roast duck is almost tailor-made for Pinot Noir. The Pinot Noir, thanks to its strawberry preserve essences, acts almost like a cherry or currant sauce on the palate, working beautifully to complement the duck.
- Mushroom Risotto: Earthy notes and fruity notes are a delicious, timeless pairing. The mushrooms deliver deep umami notes that work to anchor the light, fruit-forward nature of this California wine. This wine forgoes rustic, earthy tones in favor of bright fruit, while the risotto brings grounding earthiness to the pairing.
Who is this Wine For?
This wine is targeted to high-end kosher wine consumers, as it is certified Kosher for Passover and year-round use, appealing primarily to those interested in premium, elegant reds for holiday tables such as Passover Seders or Rosh Hashanah. Outside of the kosher market, this wine is intended to appeal to New World Pinot Noir enthusiasts interested in bright fruit notes rather than rustic earthiness.
And that's our review of the Herzog Special Reserve Clarksburg Pinot Noir 2024. If you enjoyed this review, or have any questions or suggestions, be sure to let us know in the comments below; we always enjoy hearing from you.
Cheers!
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