Saintsbury Donnelly Creek Pinot Noir 2014
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Pair with wild boar ragout or lemon-rosemary roasted vegetables with lentils.
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Wine Enthusiast
This new vineyard-designate from Saintsbury has a classic profile. Spicy, woodsy, cherrylike aromas lead to layered raspberry, cinnamon and cherry flavors, with the firm texture of fine-grained tanins and good acidity. It offers a lightly tart and lingering finish. Great balance and complexity come together beautifully here.
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Connoisseurs' Guide
Nicely fruited and well-defined in its ripe red cherry, dried rose petal aromas, and full on the palate without any sense of excess, this wine is supple at entry before tightening up under the not-unexpected astringency and potency that is often part and parcel of the better Anderson Valley Pinots. It does run from a soft early feel on the palate to finishing toughness, yet with fruit staying the course from front to back, this one will drink decently now when a bit of grip is wanted and can round out and gain useful polish over three to five years.
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2017-
Wine
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Connoisseurs'
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Wilfred
Wong
Undoubtedly proving its merit over and over, Napa Valley is a now a leading force in the world of prestigious red wine regions. Though Cabernet Sauvignon dominates Napa Valley, other red varieties certainly thrive here. Important but often overlooked include Merlot and other Bordeaux varieties well-regarded on their own as well as for their blending capacities. Very old vine Zinfandel represents an important historical stronghold for the region and Pinot noir is produced in the cooler southern parts, close to the San Pablo Bay.
Perfectly situated running north to south, the valley acts as a corridor, pulling cool, moist air up from the San Pablo Bay in the evenings during the hot days of the growing season, which leads to even and slow grape ripening. Furthermore the valley claims over 100 soil variations including layers of volcanic, gravel, sand and silt—a combination excellent for world-class red wine production.