Dutton Goldfield Sanchietti Vineyard Pinot Noir 2008

There's good news and bad news about the 2008 Sanchietti. The good news is that it's as deep, rich and unctuous as any Sanchietti we've made. The bad news is that the vineyard yield was the most pitiful we've seen since the almost nonexistent 2003 harvest, so only 240 total cases were produced. The sparse set and warm, dry harvest season gave the Sanchietti fruit thick skins and a tiny juice yield. The resulting wine is unusually extracted for this vineyard, but the tannins are still silky and the fresh blueberry fruit is still at the core. In the nose, the wine is blueberries and black cherry compote, along with coriander and toffee overtones. In the mouth, the thickness of the 2008 vintage is immediately apparent, supporting a sweet core of blackberry and blueberry fruit and carried by wonderfully fine but substantial tannin core. This is a beautifully generous wine for current drinking, whose balance will also carry it for many years to come. Enjoy with a barbequed salmon, roasted quail, or any dish with mushrooms.