For many years I have bought and enjoyed Dutton-Goldfield wines from my personal collection. These are wines that exude class and won’t break the bank. It always shocks me that this is a Sonoma producer that flies under the radar. Dutton Goldfield makes a killer range of wines from Riesling and even Pinot Blanc to Syrah. For years I have enjoyed visiting this top notch producer located in the Russian River Valley. Dutton Goldfield dates back to 1998 when colleagues Steve Dutton and Dan Goldfield decided to start a winery together. Steve Dutton is a 5th generation farmer while Dan has a background in chemistry and later completed the illustrious UC Davis program in winemaking. Dan previously worked at Robert Mondavi Winery and even made wine in Portugal for two years before coming back to California and starting Dutton-Goldfield
Winemaking here is exceptional and the wines are never overblown and always have great bright acidity. I love the new 2021 Dutton-Goldfield ‘Rued Vineyard’ Chardonnay (OB, 94) which is dense with serious nerve. which is very dense and has fantastic underlying tension. A knockout wine is the 2021 Dutton-Goldfield ‘Stubbs Vineyard’ Pinot Noir (OB, 95) which shows amazing intensity and flavor density. Learn more about Dutton Goldfield at http://www.duttongoldfield.com. Here are the great new releases from Dutton Goldfield.
2021 Dutton-Goldfield ‘Rued Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The famed ‘Rued Vineyard’ is located in the Green Valley and is planted to Old Wente selection Chardonnay. Stored in all French oak (44% new) before bottling, this saw extended battonage. This shows off a seamless texture with lovely weight and intensity from the battonage. Layers of roasted pineapple, banana and Meyer lemon zest mingle well with copious minerals and creamy accents on the palate. Finishing very long, this is an exceedingly delicious effort that will live on for another ten years. Drink 2023-2033- 94
2021 Dutton-Goldfield ‘Dutton Ranch-Walker Hill Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The outstanding 2021 Dutton-Goldfield ‘Dutton Ranch-Walker Hill Vineyard’ Chardonnay comes from this site that has now been sourced from since 2006. This is a big and burly Chardonnay that obviously saw extended battonage. Toasty oak, ripe fig and rich melon flavors combine with citrus rind accents and vanilla cream on the palate. Finishing very long, this is delicious now but will live on for another ten years to come. Drink 2023-2033- 94
2021 Dutton-Goldfield ‘Stubbs Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The Stubbs Vineyard was planted back in 1996 by Tom and Mary Stubbs. This site is set in the Petaluma Gap appellation and is a cooler site that is located at the bottom of a valley. The win3 was stored in 50% new French oak before bottling, and offers wet soil notes alongside dark cherry, plum and shades of baking spices on the nose. The palate is soft and refined with plenty of earthy and damp soil notes alongside a core of rich dark fruits and hints of cola. This is seriously good stuff in its heady youth. Drink 2023-2035- 95
2021 Dutton-Goldfield ‘Docker Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The Docker Hill Vineyard is located southeast of the town of Mendocino, as the site sets at 1,000 feet elevation. Stored for 17 months in 45% new French oak, this delivers a great melange of red and dark fruits, with beautiful finesse, orange peel and wild mushroom flavors on the palate. Enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2023-2035- 94
2021 Dutton-Goldfield ‘Deviate’ Pinot Noir- The 2021 ‘Deviate’ comes from two Sonoma Coast Vineyards and was aged in 40% new French oak before bottling. Silky smooth on the mouth, this is exceedingly refined with beautiful sense of texture and verve. Layers of pretty red and dark fruits parade with chocolate, sassafras, and dried herbs on the palate. Dense and chewy, loaded with a bright sense of minerality, this is already drinking beautifully now at the two year mark. Drink 2023-2035- 95
2021 Dutton-Goldfield ‘Devil’s Gulch Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2021 Devil’s Gulch Vineyard comes from Western Marin County which shows steep terraces up to 60% grade, set on very shallow soils. This 2021 Pinot Noir is loaded with concentrated tart red fruit flavors alongside cherry cola, freshly tilled loamy soils and shades of cardamom on the palate. Novel and delicious, this finesse-driven bottling will entice any lover of top class California Pinot Noir. Drink 2023-2035- 95
2021 Dutton-Goldfield ‘Dutton Ranch-Emerald Ridge Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- This site in the Dutton Ranch is an east-facing site located in the Green valley that was planted back in 2001 and set on Goldridge sandy loam soils. This comes off soft and inviting with straightforward red and dark fruit flavors with plenty of minerals and shades of baking spice dusted black licorice. Drink 2023-2035- 93
2021 Dutton-Goldfield ‘Fox Den Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2021 ‘Fox Den Vineyard’ is located at the top of Stoetz Ridge which is at the western part of the Green Valley. Stored in 55% new French oak for 18 months before bottling, this offers salty soil flavors alongside wild blackberry, cola and shades of menthol on the palate. This is really complex stuff that will live on for a really long time. Drink 2023-2035- 94
2021 Dutton-Goldfield ‘McDougall Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The McDougall Vineyard is set in the Fort Ross-Seaview appellation which is set at 1,100 feet and neighbors the Pacific Ocean. This comes off wonderfully salty from this site, as saline drenched red currant and black raspberry combine with stony and tilled soil notes on the palate. Finishing long this is drinking beautiful right now with its weight and tension. Drink 2023-2035- 94