Today we share one of the outstanding Sonoma producers who is celebrating 50 years in the industry. Back in 1973 Davis Bynum began their journey using Rochioli Vineyard grapes and helping establish the Russian River Valley as a world-class location for Pinot. Davis Bynum was later sold to the Klein family who run Rodney Strong in 2007.
Winemaker Greg Morthole started working for Rodney Strong Vineyards in 2005, when he accepted a job as lab director. He has been Davis Bynum winemaker for two decades now. I loved the new wines. Check out a killer value, the 2023 ‘River West Vineyard’ Chardonnay (OB, 92) which is sensational and easy to find as over 8K cases are made. Learn more at https://www.davisbynum.com and here are my reviews of the new Davis Bynum wines.
2023 Davis Bynum ‘River West Vineyard’ Chardonnay- Located in the Middle Reach, the River West Vineyard neighbors Flowers. Stored in 35% new French oak, this offers a gorgeous nose of honeysuckle and shades of poached pear alongside suggestions of wet stone. The palate is rich and dense with a terrific mouthfeel and great sense of weight and length. Amazing there is 12K cases of this wine — what a wine! Drink 2025-2033- 92
2023 Davis Bynum ‘Dutton Origin Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The 2023 ‘Dutton Origin Vineyard’ comes from this location in southern Sonoma set on Goldridge soils and clay. Vines here were planted in the 1970s. Stored in 65% new French oak, this deliver marzipan and toasty oak alongside shades of papaya and white peach. The palate is dense and delicious with serious texture and verve, with outstanding length. Drink 2025-2035- 94
2023 Davis Bynum ‘Russian River Valley’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 Davis Bynum ‘Russian River Valley’ Pinot Noir was stored in roughly 35% new French oak and comes from eight different vineyards. The nose shows off red florals with cola, cranberry and shades of cardamom. This has amazing Sonoma character with the cran-cola and orange zest notes on the palate. Well-done! Drink 2025-2033- 92
2023 Davis Bynum ‘Rochioli Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The outstanding 2023 Davis Bynum ‘Rochioli Vineyard’ Pinot Noir is a gorgeous wine that shows off red rose petals and scorched earth notes alongside shades of salty soils and wet rock. The palate is rich and viscous with great concentration and underlying tension. Rich and viscous, enjoy this downright delicious bottling now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2025-2037- 95
2023 Davis Bynum ‘Bacigalupi’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 Pinot Noir was puncheon fermented and shows gorgeous dark florals on the nose with cola, sassafras and shades of orange peel. The palate is plush and concentrated with serious texture, weight and verve. Dense and delicious, enjoy this beauty now and over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2025-2037- 94