Skewis Demuth Vineyard Pinot Noir 2001
Dry red wine, specifically a cool-climate, elegant New World Pinot Noir · Skewis Wines is an acclaimed boutique producer founded by husband and wife team Hank Skewis and Maggie Skewis in the Russian River Valley. Known for crafting small-lot, single-vineyard Pinot Noirs that express distinct terroir, they have gained a cult following among California Pinot Noir enthusiasts for their meticulous vineyard sourcing and traditional winemaking methods.
Vintage: 2001
Type
Dry red wine, specifically a cool-climate, elegant New World Pinot Noir
Producer
Skewis Wines is an acclaimed boutique producer founded by husband and wife team Hank Skewis and Maggie Skewis in the Russian River Valley. Known for crafting small-lot, single-vineyard Pinot Noirs that express distinct terroir, they have gained a cult following among California Pinot Noir enthusiasts for their meticulous vineyard sourcing and traditional winemaking methods.
Country
United States
Vintage
2001
Region & Appellation
Anderson Valley, Mendocino County, California, United States
Grape Varieties
100% Pinot Noir, showcasing the bright acidity, red fruit profile, and earthy undertones characteristic of high-elevation Anderson Valley fruit.
Color & Appearance
Translucent ruby core with a developing garnet rim, indicating moderate age. Clear with medium viscosity and slow, gentle legs tracing the glass.
Aroma Profile
Complex bouquet of dried red cherries, wild strawberries, and red plums, complemented by secondary and tertiary notes of damp forest floor, dried rose petals, baking spice, and a subtle touch of smoky oak.
Tasting Notes
An elegant and mature palate featuring a silky entry that expands into a nuanced mid-palate of dried red fruits, savory earth, and forest floor. The finish is long, harmonious, and lingering, displaying a refined balance of mature fruit and savory complexity.
Flavor Profile
Red cherry, cranberry, and pomegranate mingling with savory notes of mushroom, truffle, forest floor, and delicate accents of clove and vanilla from oak aging.
Body & Texture
Medium-bodied with a luxurious, silky texture. The mouthfeel is refined and polished, showing the seamless integration of fruit extract and mature tannins.
Acidity & Tannins
High, refreshing acidity that provides structural lift and energy, paired with fine-grained, fully resolved, and velvety tannins typical of aged cool-climate Pinot Noir.
Sweetness Level
Bone dry with no detectable residual sugar.
Alcohol Content
Around 13.5% to 14.2% ABV, typical for balanced California Pinot Noir of this era.
Aging & Oak
Aged in French oak barrels (a moderate percentage of new oak) to impart subtle spice and toast without masking the delicate varietal characteristics and terroir expression of the Demuth Vineyard.
Food Pairings
Ideal with roasted duck breast, wild mushroom risotto, herb-crusted pork loin, or roasted game birds. Pairs wonderfully with earthy, semi-hard cheeses like Gruyère or Comte.
Serving Suggestions
Serve slightly cool at 60-65°F (15-18°C) in a wide-bowled Burgundy glass. Gentle decanting is recommended to remove sediment given its age, but handle with care as older Pinot Noir can be fragile.
Price Range
Estimated secondary market or auction value ranging from $50 to $90 depending on provenance and storage history.
Quality Assessment
Rated around 90-93 points by critics in its prime, representing an exceptional, beautifully aged example of boutique California Pinot Noir from a cooler microclimate.
Production Methods
Hand-harvested grapes, gentle destemming, native yeast fermentation in small open-top vessels with traditional punch-downs, followed by gravity-fed transfer to French oak barrels and minimal intervention prior to bottling.
Terroir
Demuth Vineyard is situated high on a ridge in the Anderson Valley AVA. It features cool maritime fogs, high diurnal temperature shifts, and unique soils that contribute to slow ripening and exceptional concentration and acidity in the grapes.
History & Heritage
Skewis Wines established a reputation in the late 1990s and 2000s as a pioneer of site-specific, cool-climate California Pinot Noir, focusing on limited-production bottlings from premier vineyards.
Interesting Facts
Demuth Vineyard is legendary for producing some of the most structured, age-worthy Pinot Noirs in Mendocino County due to its extreme elevation and unique mountain terroir.
Cellaring Potential
Fully mature and at its peak drinking window; should be enjoyed now for its complex tertiary evolution, as extended cellaring is not recommended for this vintage.
Similar Wines
Williams Selyem, Kosta Browne, Littorai, and Alesia Pinot Noir from Anderson Valley or the Russian River Valley.