The Tale of Two Pinots: Mass Production vs. Terroir

Meiomi Pinot Noir: The "Manufactured" Profile

Meiomi (which means "coast" in the languages of the native Wapo and Yuki tribes) has achieved remarkable commercial success, with production volumes exceeding one million cases annually. The brand was sold for over $300 million, a deal that famously included no vineyards or physical winery assets, just the brand and a "recipe".

Production Style: Meiomi sources grapes from multiple coastal counties (Sonoma, Monterey, Santa Barbara) to create a consistent, blended flavor profile year after year.

Flavor Profile: The wine is known for a bold, rich, and smooth profile with "jammy fruit" flavors of boysenberry, blackberry, and dark cherry, accented by mocha and vanilla from French and American oak aging.

The Criticism: Wine professionals and critics often label Meiomi as "overmanipulated" or "artificial" because of its high residual sugar (around 6 grams per liter, with some sources claiming up to 19 grams per liter) and low acidity, which is designed to appeal to a broad market preference for sweeter, softer wines. This results in a "crowd-pleasing" style that some argue does not taste like a traditional, dry Pinot Noir.

Davis Bynum Russian River Valley Pinot Noir: The Voice of the Land

In stark contrast, the philosophy at Davis Bynum Winery is to "let the land speak". A pioneer in the region, Davis Bynum produced the first single-vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir in 1973. The winery focuses on handcrafted, small-lot wines (around 15,000 cases annually) that express the distinct terroir of Sonoma County's Russian River Valley.

Production Style: Winemaker Greg Morthole blends fruit from specific vineyard neighborhoods within the Russian River Valley, such as the warmer Santa Rosa Plains and the cooler, fog-soaked Green Valley, to achieve complexity and balance. Each lot is vinified and aged separately (for 14-15 months in French/European oak) before the final blend is made.

Flavor Profile: These wines feature vibrant red fruit notes like bright cherry, strawberry, and rhubarb, complemented by earthy undertones, minerality, and racy acidity. The result is a wine with more elegance, structure, and depth.

The Acclaim: The focus on sustainable practices and highlighting the "unique characteristics that each acre brings" results in wines that wine enthusiasts praise for their authenticity and ability to showcase the distinct Russian River Valley character.

Experience the authentic legacy of the Russian River Valley with Davis Bynum, where small-lot handcrafted Pinot Noirs capture the true soul of the land through elegant structure and vibrant, terroir-driven flavors!!!