Domaine Anderson, located in Philo, California, will officially open during the Anderson Valley Pinot Noir Festival from May 16-18, 2014. A vision of the Rouzaud family of Louis Roederer, and their American team, the winery is dedicated to producing great wines, crafted with precision and care, to express the uniqueness of our Anderson Valley terroir.

The winery is nestled in the hillside and mountain terrain of this remote corner of Mendocino County, which is home to a small community of pioneering vine growers. Surrounded by the 17-acre Dach vineyard, and under the leadership of head winemaker Jerry Murray, production is principally dedicated to Pinot Noir. In addition, we complement our supply of grapes from 35-acres of our own proprietary prime vineyards located throughout the Valley. In 2012, for the inaugural release, Domaine Anderson produced two Estate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines from a blend of several parcels and two Single Vineyard Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines whose grapes come from specific plots. Our four wines are 100% estate bottled and throughout the entire process we benefit from the experience and talent of Bourgogne winemaker and consultant, Jeremy Seysses.

“This winery is the realization of our dream,” says Gregory Balogh, President of Domaine Anderson. “After 30 years in the Valley with Roederer Estate and Scharffenberger Cellars, our next project was developing an estate dedicated solely to producing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. It was not until 2011 that we found the right opportunity when we were able to purchase an exceptional vineyard and a small unfinished winery. After years of complete devotion to the project, we are now delighted and honored to offer wine lovers, pinotphiles in particular, a pure expression of our Anderson Valley terroir.”

The Winemaker

Domaine Anderson’s winemaker, Jerry Murray, has dedicated his career to super premium Pinot Noir wines. Spanning three continents and eight wineries, Murray’s passion for Pinot led him to acquire best-in-class skills working in Oregon, New Zealand and Germany. Says Murray, "Working on Domaine Anderson is a thrill; my family and I very much enjoy being part of the local community. The quality of the vineyards, the beauty of the Anderson Valley and the unique terroir produce exceptional Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines. We are happy and proud of our inaugural release which comes from our own grapes meticulously handpicked during the beautiful 2012 vintage.“

The Wines

For the 2014 inaugural release, we have produced two Estate wines:

- Domaine Anderson, 2012 Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley - A bright and lucid expression of pinot noir's captivating virtues, this wine fills the palate with black cherry, raspberry, and sumptuous red plum. A breath of clove lends perfect balance to this wine. Beneath its silkiness lies a core of tannin emboldened by acidity, showing energy and graceful agility. Not to be defined by the dominant fruits, the mid-palate reveals a compelling extension of tenebrous earth notes. Molasses and a hint of sweet oak are woven in, creating depth and sustained intrigue. The finish is striking with vitality and charm.

- Domaine Anderson, 2012 Chardonnay, Anderson Valley – Flavors of warm apricot are given gorgeous dimension by fragrant white-flower aromatics; hints of caramelized apple and cinnamon heighten a mid-palate of pure guava, sweet vanilla and poached pear. Ethereal yet voluminous, the wine's acidity provides a long and lingering finish - one of Meyer lemon punctuated by an end note of spicy oak. Refined, elegant, and perfectly restrained, this wine displays the clarity of vision and intent with which it was created.

We have also produced two Single Vineyard wines:

- Domaine Anderson, 2012 Pinot Noir, Dach Vineyard - Red cherries, licorice, and warm honey cracker excite and delight the palate in this velvety, fruit-driven wine. Black cherry, vanilla, and ripe blueberry notes are expressed with supreme clarity and focus in the mid-palate, while delicate spice and herb aromas enliven an intensely rich, almost enigmatic, core. Structured yet supple, this wine’s alluring texture and resonant finish exude style and individuality. Dach Vineyard is a classic Pinot Noir - exceptionally balanced, pliant, and remarkably pure. The perfect harmony of strength and sweetness make this Pinot Noir elegant to the end - an expression of Dach Vineyard’s singular beauty.

- Domaine Anderson, 2012 Chardonnay, Walraven Vineyard - Abundant aromas of white flower, wheat and yellow apple indulge the senses in this Chardonnay. The palate is pure finesse, with ripe fruit bound together by light citrus and mineral notes. The airy, almost weightless quality of the wine perfectly balances the wine’s acidity, carrying flavors of just-ripe peach and chamomile tea. The elegant finish is marked by Meyer lemon and sweet oak. The purity and precision of this wine highlight the uniqueness of the Walraven Vineyard and its exceptional Chardonnay grapes.

Anderson Valley Pinot Noir Festival

To celebrate the official opening of the winery, Domaine Anderson is participating in the 2014 Anderson Valley Pinot Noir Festival. On Saturday, May 17th, Domaine Anderson will join more than 45 top wineries at the Grand Tasting and on Sunday, May 18th, consumers and guests are welcome to visit for tastings and vineyard tours with Winemaker Jerry Murray. For more information about these events or other Festival events where one can experience Domaine Anderson, please visit www.avwines.com

ABOUT DOMAINE ANDERSON

Sourced from 50 acres of select Anderson Valley hillside and valley floor vineyards that we own and farm, the wines of Domaine Anderson vividly demonstrate the range of the appellation’s finest terroirs. Each year, we produce two Estate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines and two Single Vineyard Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines. Domaine Anderson's inaugural vintage is 2012, to be released in 2014.

We encourage you to visit www.DomaineAnderson.com starting May 18th for more information.