Sonoma County, California – Halleck Vineyard, a Sonoma County winery specializing in Sonoma Coast and Russian River Valley Pinot Noirs, is pleased to announce that its 2019 Halleck Vineyard Three Sons Russian River Valley Pinot Noir received the Best of Class award at the 2023 Sommelier Challenge International Wine & Spirits Competition.

Best of Class medals are rarely awarded, with most years having none. According to Rich Cook, Competition Director and Columnist at WineReviewOnline.com, this Pinot Noir effectively showcases the finest qualities of Russian River fruit in a well-structured wine.

This Sonoma County Pinot Noir received an impressive score of 96 points and won the Best of Class Award among 800 wines in the competition.

Previous Halleck Vineyard Best of Class Awards

Halleck Vineyard has a distinguished history of achieving Best of Class Awards. This recent recognition marks their seventh Best of Class Award. Previous varietals and vintages that received this esteemed honor include the 2014 Farm Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, awarded Best of Class in the $67 and over category at the 2019 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. Their 2016 Clone 828 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir was also judged Best of Class in the $60-$69.99 category at the same competition.

The Sebastopol winery’s dedication to cool climate white wine excellence resulted in their 2018 Little Sister Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc being named Best White Wine at the 2019 Sunset Magazine International Wine Competition. The previous 2018 vintage of their Little Sister Russian River Valley Sauvignon Blanc was judged Best White Wine in California by the 2019 Orange County Wine Society.

Their 2018 Russian River Valley Gewurztraminer won Best White Wine in California at the 2019 California State Fair. In their earlier years, Halleck Vineyard's 2001 Sonoma Coast Estate Grown Pinot Noir was crowned Best of the Best at the 2003 Pinot Noir Shoot Out, reflecting the West Sonoma County winery's unwavering commitment to producing exceptional wines.

Handcrafted with meticulous care and precision, the 2019 Halleck Vineyard Three Sons Russian River Valley Pinot Noir is an exquisite rarity, with only 198 cases left from the initial release of 675. This cool climate gem is a testament to the dedication and artistry of the Halleck Vineyard winemaking team.

Exclusive to Halleck Vineyard Inner Circle Wine Club members, this limited Pinot Noir is not available in stores. For those seeking an extraordinary tasting experience, the Halleck Vineyard Estate Winery in Sebastopol welcomes visitors to savor this exceptional varietal in their Wine Tasting Salon on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

Beyond the winery, you can also enjoy the 2019 Halleck Vineyard Three Sons Russian River Valley Pinot Noir at select private clubs nationwide and Michelin Star restaurants in San Francisco, Chicago, and New York.

Wine Tasting Notes

This Pinot Noir boasts a captivating garnet hue, shimmering like a precious jewel. Its aromatic journey begins with vibrant red cherry and dry leaf notes, gracefully evolving into subtle hints of white pepper and clove. The palate offers a clear start, a luscious middle bursting with bright red fruit and underbrush, and a delightful finish enriched with nuances of baking spice, clove, cinnamon, and black pepper, leaving you eagerly anticipating the next sip.

Winemaking Process

The grapes for this exceptional Pinot Noir were hand-harvested at dawn, meticulously sorted, and gently de-stemmed. They underwent a five-day cold soak before commencing whole berry fermentation, with two daily punch-downs. Fermentation occurred in an open-top five-ton fermentation tank, spanning approximately 12-16 days, followed by aging in carefully selected French Oak barrels. The barrel program comprised 30% new French Oak, 30% one-year-old French Oak, and 40% older barrels. The wine matured in barrels for ten months, with a single racking at five months during the blending process.

Wine Specifications

Appellation: Russian River Valley

Harvest Date: September 2019

Acid: 6.19 g/L

pH: 3.67

Bottling Date: August 2020

Residual Sugar: 1.19 g/L

Alcohol: 14.3%

About Sommelier Challenge International Wine & Spirits Competition

The Sommelier Challenge International Wine & Spirits Competition is a prestigious event in the world of wine and spirits, distinguished by its rigorous judging process conducted by leading industry professionals. This competition acknowledges and celebrates excellence in winemaking and spirits production, making it a coveted platform for producers and vintners to showcase their outstanding offerings.

About Halleck Vineyard

Halleck Vineyard is a family-owned winery and tasting room in the Russian River Valley/ Sonoma Coast AVA of Sonoma County, crafting award-winning, limited production Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Dry Gewurztraminer, and Dry White Zinfandel.

Media Contact

Eric Schwartzman

Schwartzman & Associates, Inc.

PR Firm

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For more information about Halleck Vineyard, contact the company here:

Halleck Vineyard
3785 Burnside Rd, Sebastopol, CA 95472, United States