DeLoach Vineyards- five 90+ Score wines!

By Darryl Beeson

Winemaker Greg La Follette, born in Europe, brings an old-world view to wine. It is raised rather than "made.” After studying at UC Davis, the top US school for wine, he continued on -the-job studies at Beaulieu Vineyard as research viticulturist/enologist, groomed by legend winemaster André Tchelistcheff.

From BV, LaFollette went to work at Kendall-Jackson learning about both small and big-time wine production of top quality. He then turned his talents to the boutique Flowers Vineyard & Winery, where he was the winemaker and general manager, launching one of the most successful small Pinot labels to date. The winery he built at Flowers is still considered one of the very best gravity-flow, gas-assist green wineries in the world.

Then he focused his talents upon the circa 1976, but now all about new, DeLoach Vineyards.

DeLoach Vineyards Green Valley Pinot Noir, Sonoma 2005
Price $45
Rating 97
This cool in more ways than one valley is Pinot-perfect, having optimal weather. Soils rich in minerals from an ancient seabed infuse the fruit with terroir. The best of five vineyards was identified to create this quintessential Green Valley Pinot Noir.

This velvet hammer of a red is complex, followed with earthy aromas and serious spice. Flavors of pomegranate, bright red cherries, tart raspberry, leather, and lingering floral grow from within the glass

Interestingly, open-top wood fermentors have been used in France for centuries.  Many California winemakers have traditionally abandoned open-top fermentors in favor of stainless-steel tanks on the belief that they would facilitate easy-to-control fermentations and predictable results.  Greg LaFollette, the DeLoach Vineyards winemaker, prefers to live dangerously: "I don't practice safe winemaking," he says, choosing open-top fermentors and wild yeasts for his impressive Pinot Noirs, "so [the wine] goes to the limit of what it can be."  DeLoach Vineyards crafts terroir-driven, delicious wines that are a true expression of their vineyards, passion and history of top quality.

DeLoach Vineyards Estate Bottled Pinot Noir, Russian River 2005 
Price $20
Rating 93
Using traditional Burgundian tecniques, this Pinot Noir is rich in color and flavor, presenting aromas of bright cherry and black berry complimented by hints of savory spice. Flavors of dried cherry and cranberry meld with classic brown spice flavors.

In 2004, DeLoach Vineyards purchased 15 French oak open-top fermentors specifically for Pinot Noir production.  As Russian River Valley winemaking pioneers, DeLoach Vineyards is often the first in the area to employ innovative winemaking techniques like the use of oak open-top fermentors.  This innovative step has helped catalyze a movement of winemakers across the region that are employing traditional winemaking techniques like hand-punchdowns (pigage) and gravity-flow systems.

DeLoach Vineyards OFS Pinot Noir, Russian River 2005
Price $38
Rating 95
Fruit sources include the Balletto Vineyards and Dijon clones, both of which are located in cooler growing regions of Sonoma County. These cooler climates allow the grapes to ripen over an extended season, developing wonderfully complex flavors.

Following a rigorous fruit selection, the must is fermented in small French oak vats utilizing native yeasts. The wine is then gently pressed off and aged in French oak barrels, 25% new oak.

"From the glass, quintessential Russian River Valley Pinot Noir flavors caress your senses;" boasts Greg LaFollette, the DeLoach Vineyards winemaker. "Aromas of cherry, licorice and cookie dough spice meet in a delightful mélange. A full, rich palate offers tempting red fruit flavors with late echoes of cherries and lilac. A seductively layered wine with the texture of crushed velvet on your tongue, those who can resist drinking it now will be well rewarded with the beautiful nuances brought by age."

DeLoach Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc, Russian River 2006
Price $14
Rating 94
The grapes were hand harvested, then the juice was fermented and aged in a combination of 30% neutral French oak barrels and 70% stainless steel tanks.  After primary fermentation, about 25% of the wine underwent malolactic fermentation, lending a unique creaminess. 

"The 2006 Sauvignon Blanc offers a unique nose of ripe tropical fruits, melded with fresh cut grass, ripe honeydew melon and crisp lemon," explains Greg LaFollette, the DeLoach Vineyards winemaker. "The palate explodes with acidic but ripe fruit and the lengthy finish of meyer lemon lasts and lasts. This is a concentrated, balanced and refreshing white wine."

DeLoach Vineyards OFS Sauvignon Blanc, Russian River 2006
Price $22
Rating 96
The juice was fermented and aged in a combination of 30% neutral French oak barrels and 70% stainless steel tanks. After primary fermentation, about 25% of the wine underwent malolactic fermentation, lending a unique creaminess and full mouthfeel to a classically lean wine. The juice was fermented and aged using a combination of French oak barrels and stainless steel tanks. This vintage marks their first release of a screw cap Sauvignon Blanc.

"This 2006 O.F.S. Sauvignon Blanc offers refreshing rich tropical fruit layers and flavors of ripe pineapple, kiwi and guava," boasts Greg LaFollette, the DeLoach Vineyards winemaker.  "Aromas of fresh wild herb and lime with hints of ginger and white pepper make this a lovely wine for food pairing or to enjoy all by itself."

La Follette’s wines have been served at the White House at several state events, including to 44 heads-of-state at the NATO 50th Anniversary, and he has been asked by the State Department to represent the US in goodwill efforts abroad to improve winemaking practices in other countries.

Greg Folette turned his attention to both vineyard and winery consulting internationally. He designed/redesigned 14 wineries worldwide with emphasis on “green” design. He is the consulting/designing winemaker for the new UC Davis teaching winery; and is involved in projects on five continents. These efforts have resulted in a “Wine of the Year” in Chile (Decanter), and the #1 white wine and the #1 Pinot Noir (two years in a row) in South Africa, as voted by each of those countries’ own vintners associations. Watch, and drink, this fellow's work.

More information is at www.deloachvineyards.com.

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Darryl Beeson teaches professional wine technique for www.internationalsommelier.com . He is American editor of www.wineontheweb.com.