History
Phil and Toby Flax established the vineyard in 1998 on their ranch above the Russian River. Williams Selyem bottled an early Flax designate under Bob Cabral, and from 2005 Merry Edwards made a Flax Vineyard Pinot Noir every year through a final 2018 vintage. The Flaxes sold to Steve and Donna Hicks in 2012, and in 2016 DuMOL's owners, Jeff and Laurie Ubben, bought the 52 acre riverfront ranch, took over the farming, and now bottle it as Flax Estate.
The Site
The hillside faces east over the river in the northern Middle Reach of Westside Road at about 200 feet, on dark red, rocky, well-draining ground of Yolo sandy loam and Suther loam, with river-wash gravels on the lower blocks.
Vines and Blocks
Pinot Noir throughout, densely planted at over 1,500 vines per acre in Pommard, Mt. Eden and Swan selections, with the Merry Edwards era blocks of 2002 to 2005 in Pommard 4 on 101-14 and 039-16 rootstocks.
The Wines
Flax fruit carries the Middle Reach signature, red-fruited, spicy, silken Pinot Noir, now channeled into a single estate designation under DuMOL.