Founded in 1996 DuMOL is a Russian River Valley winery that has gently evolved into what is clearly one of the finest producers in Sonoma County. Starting out with bold-flavoured wines from fruit sourced in Sebastopol, they were joined by current owner Andy Smith in 1999, and the wines are now some of the most nuanced and subtle expressions of their respective varieties.
Smith, a Scotsman whose vinous career started at an Edinburgh Oddbins, became part owner of the winery in 2005, with the original owner selling to him and two partners in 2015. The winery now owns 32 hectares of vines.
2023 was a late and cool vintage for California, and amongst the finest ever for the region. The season was long, with no issues at all of excess heat, allowing the grapes to ripen slowly, gently building complexity and intensity whilst retaining fresh acidity.
Critical praise for the wines of DuMOL is unanimously strong, especially so for the 2023s, wines which Antonio Galloni describes simply as “a stellar set of 2023s from Andy Smith and Jenna Davis at DuMOL”. Erin Brooks, for the Wine Advocate, writes: "The idyllic growing season allowed Smith and his winemaker, Jenna Davis, to craft a stunning lineup of cellar-worthy Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays that he says may be the finest the winery has ever produced."
The wines are in the UK and will be available for delivery in approximately two weeks.
