The Wine
2023 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
Vintage Notes
2023 in the Russian River Valley was one of those “finally, we can exhale” vintages. A long, cool, steady season let the fruit ripen on its own terms: no heat spikes, no big drama, just a slow build of flavor and tannin. The crop was a touch more generous, but in all the right ways: more perfectly ripe clusters with more great flavors. Extended hang time and gentle weather translated into layered aromatics, supple tannins, and that plush-yet-focused texture we quietly dream about when we commit to Pinot in this corner of Sonoma.
Vineyards: This wine is a conversation between four characterful Russian River sites. Each has its own accent, but all speak the same language of place. Together, the four vineyards weave a Russian River tapestry that feels both precise and a little wild, in the best sort of way.
● Koplen Vineyard – The extrovert in the blend. A slightly warmer, sun-kissed site that brings plush red and black cherry, ripe strawberry, and a sense of generosity. Think vivid fruit, easy charm, and a little swagger on the mid-palate.
● Graham Vineyard – The live wire. Graham leans into energy and brightness: crunchy red fruits, lifted aromatics, and a bit of spice. It adds tension and line to the wine—the “zip” that keeps each sip feeling fresh.
● Giudici Vineyard – The anchor. Giudici quietly supplies backbone and detail: darker-toned fruit, fine tannin, and a subtle savory thread—black tea, cocoa nib, and forest floor. It’s the structure that makes the blend feel complete rather than just delicious.
● Browne Family Estate – The soul of the wine. This is home base—the piece that ties everything to the CIRQ vision. It brings harmony and polish: beautifully ripened red and blue fruits, with a seamless texture. If this blend were a band, Browne Family Estate would be the lead singer
Tasting Notes
Aromatics: The nose is classic Russian River with a playful twist. Fresh red cherry and wild strawberry lead, joined by black raspberry and a little plum skin. As it opens, you’ll find rose petals, orange peel, and red licorice, followed by warm baking spices—cinnamon stick, clove, maybe a hint of star anise. Underneath, a quiet note of redwood duff and dried herbs drifts in, framed by subtle French oak—more like a beautiful frame than a costume. Give it air and it keeps adding layers, like a story that gets better with each telling.
Flavors: Juicy cherry, Rainier cherry, and wild strawberry flow in first, quickly joined by pomegranate, cranberry, and a flash of blood orange. The mid-palate deepens into darker raspberry, black tea, and cocoa nib, with fine-grained tannins that feel like brushed suede. Present, supportive, and never poking you in the ribs. The acidity is bright but not sharp, giving the wine lift and a long, mouthwatering finish that trails off in red fruits, spice, and a whisper of earthy savory.
Mouthfeel: The palate walks a beautiful line between silky texture and vibrant energy. The combination of layered yet finely worked tannins sweep around the mouth and are both luxurious and dynamic at the same time. It’s serious enough for contemplation, but fun enough that you might forget to overthink it.
Cellarability: 2023 has all the quiet signals of a long-distance runner. The interplay of vibrant acidity, detailed fruit, and refined tannin suggests a delicious near-term window on release and growing complexity over the next 3–5 years. With proper cellaring, expect the wine to evolve beautifully over 8–10 years and likely beyond, trading some of its fresh cherry and berry tones for dried rose, tea, truffle, and more savory forest notes. Early on, it’s all charm and vivid fruit; with time, it settles into that story-telling mode—less fireworks, more candlelight and good conversation.
Technical Data
Alcohol: 14.5 % pH: 3.5 TA: 5.4 g/L
Clones: 667, Mariafeld, 23, Mt Eden, 115, and Vosne Romanee
Time in Barrel: 100% French oak aged for 15 months. 42% New French oak barrels, 22% once filled oak barrels, and 36% neutral impact oak barrels.
Cases Produced: 2419
Previous Vintages
OUR BACK LABELS CHANGE EVERY YEAR, TO REPRESENT THE UNIQUE GROWING SEASON FROM WHICH THEY WERE CRAFTED AND BRING TO LIFE A UNIQUE TURN OF THE CENTURY CIRCUS MOTIF THAT PAYS HOMAGE TO MY FAMILY’S ROOTS.
2022 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
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2021 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
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2019 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
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2018 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
The 2018 growing season was special as it commemorates our first vintage from CIRQ’s new home in the heart of the Russian River Valley. It was an ideal growing season in many ways, with beautiful growing conditions. Spring was cooler than recent vintages which led to a longer bloom with consistently good fruit set and generous yields
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2017 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
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2016 Treehouse Pinot Noir
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2016 Bootlegger’s Hill Pinot Noir
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2015 Treehouse Pinot Noir
As the long, arid summer progressed, it was clear the vines were exhausted from pushing through years of drought. Yields further decreased to 40-50% of the average
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2015 Bootlegger’s Hill Pinot Noir
Harvest pace was good and even, and we picked in multiple small passes to unlock the purity of the fruit. This strategy enabled us to create numerous individual lots, that we later blended together to make the complex and nuanced wines you have before you
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2014 Treehouse Pinot Noir
After a show-stopping 2013 vintage, the 2014 growing season provided a resounding encore. Black raspberry and deep dark fruit that goes on and on
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2014 Bootlegger‘s Hill Pinot Noir
From the western reaches and foggy hills of the Russian River Valley. A summer pudding of crunchy fresh berries with immersive mouthfeel
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2013 Treehouse Pinot Noir
A terrific growing season with intensity and beauty galore. Dark fruit flavors and epic mouthfeel are the hallmarks of the vintage
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2013 Bootlegger‘s Hill Pinot Noir
The inaugural vintage of the eagerly anticipated Bootlegger’s. Red fruits and spice. Densely structured yet elegant and pretty. Tiny production
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2012 Treehouse Pinot Noir
A terrific growing season with intensity and beauty galore. Dark fruit flavors and epic mouthfeel are the hallmarks of the vintage
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2011 Treehouse Pinot Noir
The inaugural release and one we wish we had more of. A challenging vintage but the wine has all the hallmarks of one we’d be happy to drink over 10+ years
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