Dutton Goldfield New Releases | i-WineReview Articles
Steve Dutton and Dan Goldfield have collaborated in making some of the Russian River’s finest wines since 1998. The source of most of their fruit is the Dutton Ranch, owned by the Dutton Family and comprised of over 1150 acres of vines spread over 80 non-contiguous parcels, mostly in Green Valley in the southwest corner of the Russian River Valley. Steve’s father Warren was one of the Russian River Valley winegrowing pioneers. In 1967 he planted the first Chardonnay in western Sonoma in what is now known as the Home Ranch in Graton. Steve grew up farming and today runs the vineyard management company Dutton Brothers Farming with his brother Joe. We regularly review the new releases of Dutton Goldfield; if you wish to see past reviews, just do a search on the home page of the International Wine Review.
Highly talented, UC Davis grad Dan Goldfield is responsible for the winemaking at Dutton Goldfield. He previously made wine at Mondavi, Schramsberg, La Crema, and Hartford Court. In this article we review some recent releases from the 2021-22 vintages.
The Wines
Dutton Goldfield 2021 Chardonnay Dutton Ranch Russian River Valley ($39) 92 Light yellow straw in color, this is a ready-to-drink vineyard blend that puts the focus on freshness and balance. We’ve tasted several vintages of this wine, and this one excels. It opens with a nose of citrus and just a whiff of toasty oak. In the mouth, it offers fullness with firmness and fresh flavors of lemon cream and just ripe orchard fruit, finishing long with mineral-enhanced extract. A blend of Dutton Ranch vineyards barrel fermented with full malo and aged 10 months in 40% new French oak. pH 3.32 13.5% alc.
Devils Gulch Vineyard
Dutton Goldfield 2021 Chardonnay Devil’s Gulch Vineyard Marin County ($60) 94 Medium yellow straw. Opens with a perfumed, floral bouquet with light citrus and toasty oak notes. The wine has a lovely, pure focus and excellent intensity of flavor with seamless integration of oak and lively acidity. A luscious, invigorating wine of superb balance and layered flavors of orchard and stone fruit. Very well made with a long, focused finish. Sourced from Mark Pasternak’s Western Marin hillside vineyard where the harsh climate produces low yields and tiny berries. Fermented and aged in 67% stainless steel and 33% neutral oak; the naked portion went through malo. pH 3.34, 13.3% alc. Sourced from the Devil’s Gulch vineyard on Marin County’s the oaked portion going through malo and 10 months aging in stainless and neutral oak. pH 3.34, 13.3% alc.
Dutton Goldfield 2022 Pinot Blanc Dutton Ranch Shop Block Green Valley of Russian River Valley ($33) 91 Pale yellow. Showing wonderful freshness, this Pinot Blanc reveals white peach, pear and a hint of citrus fruit on the bouquet and palate. The mouthfeel is firm and full with just the right amount of refreshing acidity. Finishes with lingering rich extract of peach and pear. Sourced from the Puttington Creek Valley, a very cold site, where Pinot Blanc was planted in 2003. All stainless fermented and aged with partial malo. pH 3.44, 13.3% alc.
Dutton Goldfield 2022 Rosé of Pinot Noir North Coast ($33) 92 Dan Goldfield’s Rosé of Pinot Noir is consistently one of our favorite rosés. It’s scintillating and vibrant and offers the summer-fresh fruit (think tart red cherries, berries, pomegranate with a hint of just-picked yellow peach) that make it difficult to resist a second or third glass. Sourced from several vineyards, mostly in the Green Valley, and fermented in stainless steel. pH 3.29, 14.1% alc.
Dutton Goldfield 2021 Pinot Noir Dutton Ranch Russian River Valley ($50) 93 This blend of Dutton Ranch vineyards, located mainly in the Green Valley, offers intense fruit flavors. Medium ruby red in color, the nose reveals red cherries and berries with light spice notes. The flavor-packed palate is beautifully balanced with a savory accent and integrated, round tannins. A gorgeous wine. Sourced from several Dutton Ranch vineyards, mostly in Green Valley, each fermented separately with 14-20 days on the skins and matured 10 months in 40% new French oak. pH 3.58, 13.5% alc.
