United States · Sonoma

DuMOL

Sonoma County producer of vineyard focused Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from Russian River Valley parcels.

The producer

DuMOL farms small parcels across more than two dozen vineyard sites in Sonoma County, with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay at the center. The producer farms sustainably for the long term and harvests at night to keep fruit cool and intact. Wester Reach Pinot Noir brings five named vineyards into one bottle, while Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir is made from 100% DuMOL Estate Vineyard fruit. Hyde Vineyard Chardonnay is unblended and the product of a single fermentation.

Known for

Russian River Pinot Noir and Chardonnay

Notable facts

The story

The First Estate Parcel

In 2004, after an extensive search, DuMOL purchased and developed its first vineyard parcel just off Occidental Road in the Green Valley district of the Russian River Valley. That parcel became the DuMOL Estate Vineyard, which later comprised 30 acres across four contiguous parcels. The Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir is made from 100% fruit from that holding, keeping the first estate purchase present in a single vineyard bottle.

From the atlas

DuMOL

DuMOL farms Sonoma County parcels for vineyard focused Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the cool climate Russian River Valley.

At A Glance

FieldDetail
RegionSonoma County
AppellationRussian River Valley
Main grapesPinot Noir and Chardonnay
Signature wineWester Reach Pinot Noir
Defining featureVineyard focused wines from small parcels

The Producer

DuMOL farms small parcels across more than two dozen vineyard sites and commits to sustainable Sonoma County farming for the long term. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay remain the two central grapes, with the wines built around individual vineyard sources.

The estate began with a small first vintage and has since developed a broader vineyard program. Its work now includes regional blends and single vineyard wines, with separate bottles for Wester Reach, DuMOL Estate Vineyard and Hyde Vineyard.

Place

The cool climate Russian River Valley appellation gives Pinot Noir and Chardonnay a long ripening season and helps preserve acidity. DuMOL works within Sonoma County, where the vineyard program connects several named parcels to wines made from one site or several.

The place changes the shape of the range. Wester Reach gathers fruit from several vineyards, while Estate Vineyard and Hyde Vineyard keep one named holding at the center of the bottle.

Soil And Site

By 2022, the DuMOL Estate Vineyard comprised 30 acres across four contiguous parcels. A single vineyard wine uses fruit from one named holding, keeping that parcel separate from wines assembled from several vineyard sources.

Story

Andy Smith studied under Neil McCallum, Ted Lemon and Paul Hobbs before joining DuMOL. He joined in 1999, took on the named winemaker and viticulturist roles in 2000, and became a partner in 2005.

DuMOL built a winery measuring 19,600 square feet in Windsor's Conde Business Park in 2008. Jenna Davis joined as a harvest intern in 2014 and developed her craft under Smith before her promotion to Winemaker.

Vineyards And Cellar

DuMOL harvests grapes at night so the cool, firm fruit remains intact during its short journey to the winery. Lower fruit temperature and careful handling help preserve the condition of the grapes before processing.

The barrel program focuses on a small group of artisan coopers. Barrel ageing exposes wine gradually to oxygen and can add spice and texture as the wine develops.

Wines

DuMOL's red and white range is built around Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Wester Reach Pinot Noir combines five named vineyards, led by Occidental Road Vineyard and the next largest source. Wester Reach Chardonnay also combines five vineyards, with Flax Estate Vineyard contributing the largest share.

Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir is a single vineyard wine made from 100% DuMOL Estate Vineyard fruit. Hyde Vineyard Chardonnay is a single vineyard wine that is unblended and the product of a single fermentation. One fermentation means the wine is not assembled from separate fermentation lots.

In The Glass

The 2023 Wester Reach Pinot Noir is broad and layered, with fine tannins, crunchy acidity and an energetic finish. The fruit remains fresh through the palate, while the tannins give the wine shape without heaviness.

The 2023 Wester Reach Chardonnay brings white flowers, thyme, aniseed, ginger and citrus, followed by lime juice, white peach, hazelnut and briny green olive. Its palate is taut yet deep and resonant, with mineral acidity cutting through natural richness and broad texture before citrus oil and oyster shell notes remain.

Hyde Vineyard Chardonnay moves from a precise, focused opening into oily richness, chewy fruit extract and seamless texture. The wine is dense, muscular and multidimensional, with vibrant oyster shell acidity bringing balance and length.

A Bottle To Understand It

Choose the 2023 Wester Reach Pinot Noir. It is a five vineyard red assembled from named Russian River Valley sources. Occidental Road Vineyard contributes 28%, the next largest named source 26%, Flax Estate Vineyard 16%, DuMOL Estate Vineyard 16%, and Placida Vineyard 14%.

The wine was aged 15 months in 28% new French oak. French oak ageing can add spice and soften texture as the wine develops. DuMOL gives this bottling a drinking window from 2025 through 2035.

Anecdote

In 1987, Goodyear bought Kerry Murphy's family tire business, Murphy's Inc. Murphy had been collecting wines from Burgundy since the sale. In 1996, he and Michael Verlander decided to establish DuMOL. The first vintage comprised 300 cases, split evenly between Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from Dutton Ranch.

Final Word

DuMOL puts Pinot Noir and Chardonnay into two clear forms, wines assembled from several named vineyards and bottles from one vineyard or one fermentation. Wester Reach, Estate Vineyard and Hyde Vineyard show how that range changes with its source.

Sources

Open DuMOL in the interactive map →