Rubies

A cuvée of the best Russian River Valley Pinot Noir barrels,
hand-selected each vintage by winemaker, Adrian Manspeaker.

Circa 1850, Adrian’s great-great-great grandfather, Charles Jewell, and his brother Thomas, competitively raced steam boats on the Ohio River. One race in particular they were neck-in-neck with the other boat. To send them over the line to win the race and the competitor’s boat, they burned their valuable Chippendale furniture in the furnace. The race winnings totaled $80,000, about $3.5 million in today’s money.

Growing up Adrian’s father wore a special ring won by Charles and Thomas with a ruby gem in it. When Adrian blends the Rubies cuvée each year, he aims for the final wine to shine with a ruby hue like his father’s ring.

2021 Tasting Notes

The nose on the 2021 Rubies is enveloped by the inviting presence of red cherries and their vibrant essence taking center stage. Subtle hints of earthy forest floor emerge, evoking a sense of connection to nature, while delicate notes of redwood needles add an aromatic depth. An unexpected yet delightful touch of orange rind brings a touch of citrusy zest, intermingling gracefully with the fragrance of green tea leaves. The palate experience begins with a burst of brightness and freshness, as the cherries from the aroma unfold their full flavor potential. Following closely is the gentle infusion of green tea, adding a layer of complexity to the wine’s profile, with zesty orange and grapefruit citrus notes imparting a lively energy to the palate. This wine offers a delightful journey from start to finish, showcasing a harmonious interplay of fruity and botanical elements.

Vintages

2019

2021

2021 Vintage Notes

On the heels of 2020, which was a rollercoaster of difficult decisions due to COVID and late-season fires, it wasn’t hard to have a vintage that seemed great. In hindsight, however, 2021 was the vintage of a lifetime. We had a dry and cold winter that was followed by a warm spring which led to a balanced fruit set. The lack of rain created smaller yields and more concentrated fruit. We had a very cool August and September, allowing the vines to fully develop phenolic ripeness without compromising the acidity or aromatics in the wines. With time, the 2021 Vintage will prove to be one of the best vintages in California history for Pinot Noir.

Winemaking Notes

For each vintage, we select the best barrels and age the wine for 18 months in French Oak before bottling without fining or filtration. Our goal is to capture the purity and precision of each vintage from our home here in the Russian River. The 2019 vintage is made up of four vineyards, Starscape, Bucher, Hallberg, and 800 Vines, consisting of five clones of Pinot Noir, Martini, Dijon 115, Dijon 777, Pommard, and Swan.