Our Story
We are Susie & Fred, who fell in love with the Russian River Valley when we visited from the Bay Area to pick up Pinot noir grapes for a home wine project. Our close friend Pete S. who over a period of 15 years was making fabulous wines in his garage, was making Pinot noir and we jumped on the band wagon that year.
We had purchased grapes from Randy Peters’ Sebastapol vineyard, and Randy was bringing it over to be destemmed for us at Ray Taldeschi’s vineyard in Dry Creek Valley. It was early on a cool, gray, Saturday morning. Once there we met Ray, his wife, their dog and Randy Peters, himself! Standing under a big sky, surrounded by vibrant green vines, birdsong in the air, dogs running around, and watching Ray and team bring up the beautiful purple grapes, it was so hard not to fall in love with this heaven. While we had worked a career that kept us in offices or on planes, we truly are lovers of the outdoors and of working the earth. We decided that day that we would start looking for property in Sonoma County.
It took us a couple of years, but Fred was very particular in ensuring we selected a Pinot noir vineyard with the right location and orientation. We moved to the Russian River Valley in 2010 and named our vineyard in memory of our loyal and beautiful, Black Lab, Hogan. We knew that like us, he would have loved to roam on the property by our side. While Hogan is no longer with us, our new canine family of Chado and Dorjee, stand guard at Hogan’s Run Vineyard.
Oh yeah, about the wine…. It was lovely! We dubbed it: Teenie Weenie Pinot because we were teenie winemakers taking on the daunting task of producing a really good Pinot with favorable results. Using the grapes from Randy Peters for our home-made wine taught us that superior grapes is a key component of creating good wines. So after purchasing and moving to Hogan’s Run, we decided to focus on growing the best grapes ever – and then allowing our artisan, boutique winemaker clients to do their magic. The results speak for itself!
winter
spring
summer
fall
Our Vineyard & Grapes
History
Hogan’s Run Vineyard was planted in 2000. Between 2000 and 2010, the fruit from the vineyard went into wines that included labels such as Sapphire Hills, Siduri, Paradise Ridge and Amphora.
The Location
Hogan’s Run Vineyard is located in the middle-reach of the Russian River Valley in Sonoma County – right in the heart of the Russian River Valley. The Russian River Valley is recognized globally primarily for producing outstanding world-class Pinot noir and Chardonnay. Wine produced from the grapes grown in middle-reach area are richer fuller bodied and opulent yet feminine with silky mouth-feel.
The Orientation
Hogan’s Run Vineyard is situated on a hillside with the vine rows oriented 20 degrees East of West. This row orientation ensures even and optimal sunlight exposure. To the South of the vineyard is the Petaluma Gap area which is very cool and foggy with extreme coastal influences. To the North of the vineyard are towns such as Healdsburg, where the temperatures are extremely hot. Being situated between these two extreme temperate regions, Hogan’s Run makes for an excellent growing meso-climate for Pinot noir. The Northern hot temperatures generates convection from the Petaluma Gap creating afternoon breezes, keeping the temperature in the vineyard cool in the afternoons with fog coming in during the evenings. This perfectly suits our Pinot noir, which thrives in short hot days and cool evenings. Typical of the true Russian River Pinot noir.
The Fruit
Hogan’s Run is a little over 10 acres in total, with 6.0 acres planted with 3 clones of Pinot noir.
Pinot noir clone 667
This clone is known for strong color, and hi-tone flavors with quality aromas. The fruit is fleshy, firm, and thick with soft tannin.
Fruit flavors tend to be dark cherry, raspberry, strawberry and spice.
Pinot noir clone 777
This clone is known for strong and intense color due to thicker skins and higher seed count. Wine made with this clone tend to be very aromatic with dense and complex black fruit flavors (black cherry, cassis), as well as with leather, tobacco, and earthy notes.
Pinot noir clone Pommard
Wines from this clone is known for having medium body and soft tannins with flavors such as earthiness, dried mushroom and cherry pie.
Sustainably Farmed
Hogan’s Run Vineyard is proud to be certified as sustainably farmed. We farm for lower yield with a focus on quality. We work very closely with our client winemakers as well as with North Pacific Vineyard Management to ensure we provide our clients with the best fruit ensuring excellent wines. Wines made from Hogan’s Run grapes are rated in the 90s by organizations such as Wine Spectator, Prince of Pinot, and Connoisseur Review. Thank you, our great winemaker clients!!
We are also proud members of California Association of Winegrape Growers and Sonoma County Wine Growers Association (SCW). SCW has been driving Sonoma’s mission of becoming the first 100% sustainable Wine Region in the Nation.
To find out more about Sonoma County Sustainable farming: http://www.sonomawinegrape.org
Wines Of Our Grapes
Hogan’s Run Vineyard is focused on developing relationships with winemakers who are artisans focused on producing fine hand crafted wines. We are proud to have had partnerships with many fine producers and encourage you to visit their tasting rooms or websites.
Mueller Winery
2011 Hogan’s Run
Wine Spectator
Dense and rich, with full-bodied plum, blackberry jam, anise and savory herb notes, finishing with chewy, gutsy tannins that let the flavors cling to the palate. Score 90
Prince of Pinot
Moderately dark reddish-purple hue in the glass. Very shy nose showing demure aromas of dark cherries and berries. The palate is well ahead of the nose, strutting a full-bodied, sappy core of very ripe black cherry fruit with a hint of cola and wood spice. The prodigious fruit is clothed in muscled tannins. Amazing persistence on the long, and I mean long, cherry infused finish. Score: 91
2012 Hogan’s Run
North Coast Wine Challenge: Gold Medal
Rustic elegance, bright and charming. Score 92
2016 Hogan’s Run
Connoisseurs’ Guide Review
Nicely Oaked and quite well-concentrated, the nose here shows to great advantage even in the wine’s youth, yet, for all that, there is not a whit or excess at any point. Instead, the inner parts here are aligned along refined, firm and still-developing lines, and this is a wine whose depth and keen focus augur well for a very rewarding stay in the cellar. It has youthful tannins, to be sure, and a ripe somewhat reserved, wholly convincing character. Give it a half-decade to open up. Score: 91
Cobden Wini
2013 Russian River Valley Pinot noir
Wine Spectator
Offers creamy, toasty oak and vivid focused core of zesty wild berry, raspberry, anise, dried herb and gravel flavors, ending long and persistent, with mouthwatering tannins. Score 92
2015 Cobden Wini Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
Prince of Pinot
14.0% alc., pH 3.57, TA 0.63, 100 cases. Released 11/11/16. Minimum sulfur used in vinification. Aged 11 months in French oak barrels, 50% new. Bottled unfined and unfiltered.
· Moderately light garnet color in the glass. Nicely appointed aromas of Montmorency cherry, spice and complimentary oak. Prudently concentrated, with bright flavors of dark cherry, plum, cola, tobacco and spice. Silky in the mouth with good harmony, tactful oak in the background, and a deep cherry finish. Score: 92. Reviewed June 4, 2017
2016 Cobden Wini Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
Prince of Pinot
14.0% alc., pH 3.67, TA 0.61, 125 cases. Released January 11, 2018. Minimal sulfur used in vinification. Lots were inoculated by proprietary yeasts. Aged 11 months in French oak barrels, 40% new.
· Moderate garnet color in the glass. Aromas of earth-dusted Bing cherry and cola. Discreetly concentrated spiced black cherry goodness with a hint of tobacco oak in the background. Silky and refined on the palate, with gentile tannins and a lengthy, cherry-laden finish. This wine is not a blockbuster, but is more in line with what most prefer in a Pinot Noir. Even better when tasted the following day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle. Score: 91. Reviewed August 24, 2018
Fulcrum
Fulcrum 2018 Pinot Noir Hogan’s Run Vineyard, Russian River
Tasting Notes
Bright crimson in the glass. Silky and rich, with medium-bodied cherry, blackberry, anise and herbal notes. Modest acidity and tannin which create a silky texture that lingers on the long finish.
Clone: 667
Barrel aged: 11 months
Barrel Regime: 100% French Oak, 25% New
Cooperage: Francois Frères
Bottled August 12, 2019
Cases Produced: 97
14.2% Alcohol
Fallon Place
2019 Rosé of Pinot Noir
Fallon Place Rosé of Pinot Noir is created from directly pressed Pinot noir juice with only hours of skin contact. It is aged for six months in neutral French Oak barrels to allow proper maturation and preserve the subtle aromatics of the wine before bottling. This production method produces an incredible Rosé, but in very limited quantity. Only twenty-five cases of this wine were produced.
Tasting Notes
Beautiful light salmon color with incredible aromas of watermelon, grapefruit and strawberry. Behind the aromatics lies bright acidity and a complex palate of citrus, lime and minerality balanced with a full rich mouthfeel. This is the perfect wine to serve chilled at a summer picnic.
Open For Good: For every bottle of Hogan’s Run Vineyard Rosé purchased Fallon Place will donate $1 to the Open for Good Initiative. The James Beard Foundation’s campaign to help independent restaurants survive this crisis, rebuild better, and thrive for the long term.
2017 Miro Cellars Reserve
Pinot Noir Hogan’s Run Vineyard
2017 Miro Cellars Reserve Pinot Noir Hogan’s Run Vineyard
Tasting Notes
WINEMAKER’S TASTING NOTES: Hogan’s Run Vineyard is a tiny six-acre vineyard located on a hilltop and named after the owners’ dog Hogan. This small batch of five barrels is made from clones 667, 777, and Pommard. The wine is rather intense for a Pinot, with dark red color, opulent spice, and intense fruit.
This seductive wine is an elegant expression of Russian River Pinot Noir. Its predominant red fruit aromas are supported by the judicious use of new French oak barrels. Strawberry, pomegranate and even some cassis and wild berry fragrances transcend the nose with soft heart notes of earthiness. There is also a suggestion of rose petals and slight orange blossom as well. The mouthfeel is fresh, round, juicy with a surprising but deliciously firm finish. Drink now or cellar for 5-8 years.
2019 Sommeliers Choice Awards
By the Judging Panel at
2019 SOMMELIERS CHOICE AWARDS
Sid Patel
SCAUS Director
Local Events
visitors
guest
IMG_9617-e1544568977953-1024×768
