2015 Jenkins Vineyard Pinot Noir

PinotFile
“This is an upcoming winery to keep your eye on. Founded in 2008, by Lynn and Scott Adams, who have two decades of winegrowing experience in Sonoma County, they have gathered an impressive team that includes Vineyard Manager Charlie Chenoweth and acclaimed Winemaker Michael Zardo.”
2015 Ten Acre Jenkins Vineyard Pinot Noir
“Moderately light garnet color in the glass. Deep Bing cherry perfume along with a compliment of oak and spice rub. Black cherry and blackberry goodness floods the mouth in a mid-weight styled wine with a rounded, soft texture. A brotherly touch of oak and friendly tannins are in harmony with the well-endowed fruit. Elegantly aggressive and quintessential Russian River Valley.” 94 Points: Extraordinary. An exceptional wine of great breeding and a highly recommended purchase
-Rusty Gaffney, June 2018

JamesSuckling.com
“Very fresh and pure red-cherry aromas that deliver a super fresh array of bright red cherries on the palate, amid fine, supple and ripe sheets of tannin. Delicious pinot. Drink or hold.” 93 Points: Outstanding
-Nick Stock, November 2018

Wine Review Online
“A new producer to me, and one I’ll be looking into further. This is a dark side expression of Pinot Noir, with black cherry, currant, pine needle and oak toast aromas that translate directly to palate flavors, with bright acidity up to the task of carrying the fruit and wood spice through a blossoming finish. I would lean toward the red meat side of the menu here to pick up on the subtle savory character of the wine.” 93 Points
-Rich Cook, October 2018

Wine Enthusiast
“Aromatic baking spices accent the lavish, ripe fruit flavors in this generous full-bodied wine that combines power and good balance. It is full of black cherries from the first whiff to the mouth-filling flavors and on through the finish. Moderate tannins and a touch of acidity add a little welcome grip to the texture.” 92 Points: Excellent; highly recommended
-Jim Gordon, November 2018

Connoisseurs’ Guide to California Wine
“Pure and precise Pinot Noir cherry-like scents in the aroma are fit comfortably with rich, complementary oak notes and a quiet bit of sweet spice. The wine is round, moderately tannic and on the juicy side in its palatal impressions, and, while there will be those who see a bit of sweet confection in the mix, most of us will be more than pleased with the overall success of the wine and will use it as a mate to grilled duck breasts or spring lamb rather than with heartier fare.” 92 Points: A highly distinctive wine. Likely to be memorable
-Steve Eliot, September 2018

The Press Democrat
“Cool Climate Pinot Noirs”
“A smoky pinot with aromas and flavors of black cherry and forest floor. Bright acidity. Nice length.” Four Stars; Highly recommended
-Peg Melnik, June 2018

2015 Ritchie Vineyard Chardonnay

PinotFile
“The Making of a Glorious ChardonnYAY: Winemaker Michael Zardo of Ten Acre Winery Tells How He Did It”
“The 2015 Ten Acre Winery Ritchie Vineyard Russian River Valley Chardonnay is a glorious wine that hits all the right notes for this varietal. It is such a special wine that it deserves a dedicated feature in this issue.”
2015 Ten Acre Ritchie Vineyard Chardonnay
“Moderate golden yellow color in the glass. This is clearly a special wine from the first whiff and taste. Enticing aromas of lemon creme, white-fleshed fruit, white flower blossoms, honey, and the slightest spice and vanilla pick up intensity over time in the glass. Great polish and balance make for exceedingly easy drinking. Velvety in the mouth without oiliness, offering fresh flavors of lemon, pineapple, coconut, apricot and a subtle compliment of oak peeks from the background. A juicy arrow of sound acidity is at the heart of the wine. The finish is dry and quenching and urges another sip. This wine seduces rather than attacks the senses and is truly Chardonnay nirvana.” 97 Points: Extraordinary. An exceptional wine of great breeding and a highly recommended purchase.
-Rusty Gaffney, July 2018

Wine & Spirits
“Year’s Best U.S. Chardonnays”
“Kent Ritchie planted a selection of Old Wente clone chardonnay at his vineyard in 1972; those old vines, along with some planted in 2004, produce this luscious wine, combining the floral notes of jasmine, rose petals and lilacs with the umami depths of woodland mushrooms. It’s a chardonnay with creamy sweetness, in a pear-tart-with-crème-fraîche way, and a darker, vegetal savor lending it stature. Michael Zardo ferments and ages this in French oak barrels, and the flavor depth of the fruit can stand up to it.” 93 Points: Exciting, distinctive; a wine that transcends simple typicity to its region or variety; a vivid, singular expression of place
-Josh Greene, October 2018

Wine Review Online
“Great Chardonnay from the Ground Up”
“One of the Russian River Valley Chardonnays is from Ritchie Vineyard, and it is impressive indeed. In terms of Chardonnay, it’s hard to find a grower more acclaimed than Kent Ritchie, whose Ritchie Vineyard sits in the middle of the Russian River Valley district, on slopes of Goldridge and volcanic ash soils. The vineyard boasts Wente Heritage clone Chardonnay vines planted in 1972 as well as vines from the same clone planted in 2004.

Ten Acre winemaker Michael Zardo makes the Ten Acre Winery Ritchie Vineyard Chardonnay mainly from the old vines, which give tropical and stone fruit flavors and textural richness, but he also prizes the ‘fresh acid-driven minerality’ that the younger vines contribute to the wine. This duality that Zardo describes is very much the experience that the wine delivers. The wine is amazingly rich but not heavy; its flavors are dramatic and obvious without skewing the wine toward excess.

The wine’s bright, rather deep lemon color is the first clue that this is not a simple, straightforward Chardonnay. Tropical fruit — melon and pineapple — might be the first aromas you notice when you smell the wine, followed by ripe apple, lemon zest, honeysuckle, hay, and a vanilla-butter-yeasty combo that winemaker Zardo labels as shortbread. In your mouth, the wine is full-bodied and rich in both flavor and texture. Apricot, peach and lemon are the key flavors; they mingle with sweet spices and toastiness from oak, but the fruit is what drives the flavor. The wine’s texture is creamy and unctuous, so much so that it’s odd to realize, when you shift your focus, how high the wine’s acidity is. That’s the duality of richness and freshness that the vineyard brings. An ageability forecast seems ironic for a wine as delicious as this one is now. But that acidity holds promise. Winemaker Zardo suggests drinking this wine from now to 2024.” 93 Points
-Mary Ewing-Mulligan, June 2018

JamesSuckling.com
“Some beeswax and lighter pear-blossom aromas, ahead of baked peaches and spiced biscuits. The palate has a round and creamy feel with a ripe finish. Drink now.” 90 Points: Outstanding
-Nick Stock, November 2018

2015 Soberanes Vineyard Pinot Noir

Vinous
“Vivid ruby-red. Sexy, spice-accented red and dark fruits are accompanied by suggestions of incense and smoky minerals. Sweet and penetrating on the palate, offering intense black raspberry, cherry cola and spicecake flavors that deepen steadily with air. Finishes impressively long and energetic, with even tannins that fold smoothly into the wine's juicy fruit.” 92 Points: Outstanding. A wine of remarkable personality and breed that is well worth seeking out
-Josh Raynolds, October 2018

PinotFile
Ten Acre Winery
“This is an upcoming winery to keep your eye on. Founded in 2008, by Lynn and Scott Adams, who have two decades of winegrowing experience in Sonoma County, they have gathered an impressive team that includes Vineyard Manager Charlie Chenoweth and acclaimed Winemaker Michael Zardo.”
2015 Ten Acre Soberanes Vineyard Pinot Noir
“Moderately light garnet color in the glass. Leading off are aromas of black cherry, underbrush and oak char. Intensely flavored and succulent, in a mid-weight plus style featuring flavors of black cherry and blueberry-pomegranate. A silky texture is seductive, the tannins are well matched and the toothsome fruit drives the finish. Tobacco oak plies the background and there is the slightest hint of alcohol on the finish.” 92 Points: Outstanding
-Rusty Gaffney, June 2018

Wine Enthusiast
“Baked red cherry, star anise, gingersnaps and purple flowers show on the fruity but elegant nose of this bottling. Those strong fruit and hearty spice flavors show on the sip as well, which is framed by powerful acidity.” 92 Points: Excellent; highly recommended
-Matt Kettmann, November 2018

2015 Sonoma Coast Riesling

Wine Review Online
“A Spatlese style from a vineyard near Occidental. Stony minerality, floral and citrus tones entice on the nose, and the palate is lively with searing acidity scouring out the finish and leaving a pleasant citrus expression. Some Riesling nerd info: Picked at 21 brix, 3ish pH and a TA of around 11! A nice surprise as a finisher instead of the usual sticky.” 90 Points
-Rich Cook, December 2018