One of the great, still under the radar producers of Sonoma, Dutton Goldfield makes a killer range of wines from Riesling 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 2020 Dutton-Goldfield ‘Walker Hill Vineyard’ Chardonnay (OB, 93) which is very dense and has fantastic underlying tension. A knockout wine is the 2017 DuttonGoldfield ‘Cherry Ridge Vineyard’ Syrah (OB, 94) which shows good richness and amazing complexity. Learn more about Dutton Goldfield at http://www.duttongoldfield.com. Here are the great new releases from Dutton Goldfield.
2020 Dutton Goldfield ‘Dutton Ranch Walker Hill Vineyard’ Chardonnay- Coming from old Wente clonal selection Chardonnay, this is a beauty from 2020. Ripe peach, baking spice laced French bread, vanilla cream and hints of pie crust all enter the fray on the palate. Full of depth and finesse, this is gorgeous wine to consume now and over the next ten years. Drink 2023-2033- 93
2020 Dutton Goldfield ‘Mendocino Hills’ Pinot Noir- This shows off a soft mouthfeel with straightforward dark cherry, red raspberry and cola notes on the palate. Showing good weight and freshness, this fruit-forward, delicious Pinot Noir is best enjoyed now and over the next several years. Drink 2023-2029- 91
2020 Dutton Goldfield ‘Angel Camp’ Pinot Noir- Coming from the Anderson Valley, this offers black cherry, black tea and tilled soils with stony undercurrents. Enjoy now and over the next five years. Drink 2023-2028- 91
2020 Dutton Goldfield ‘Dutton Ranch Morelli Lane Vineyard’ Zinfandel- This 2020 bottling comes off very fresh and clean with tart red fruits, a touch of sassafras, cola and suggestions of orange rind. Obviously quite an early pick, this is very fresh, fragrant and delicious wine to enjoy now and over the next five to seven years. Drink 2023-2029- 91
2017 Dutton Goldfield ‘Cherry Ridge Vineyard’ Syrah- A knockout wine, the 2017 ‘Cherry Ridge Vineyard’ Syrah shows a literal cornucopia of aromatics. Lavender, thyme, baking spices and creme de violette all fill the nose with shades of creosote. The palate shows serious poise and power, with good underlying finesse. Layers of black and blue fruits collide with freshly tilled soils, iron and bulls blood tones. Gratifying and novel, this is complex and delicious Syrah to consume now and over the next seven years. Drink 2023-2030- 94