Winemaker Notes
Mineral notes dominate at first, followed by subtlety, refinement and purity. Black cherry, raspberry, rhubarb, hibiscus, and wet soil flatter the senses until we take a sip and then there is an overdrive of complexity. Crushed rose petals, tarragon, turmeric, spice box, worn leather and crushed rock.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Aromas of fresh strawberries, crushed herbs and violets. Medium-bodied with nice freshness and transparency. Silky tannins. Earnest and charming stuff.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Made by the team at K Vintners, the 2020 Pinot Noir comes from the Royal Slope and saw 25% whole clusters and 12 months in barrel. Classy notes of ripe cherries, blackberries, leafy herbs, leather, and scorched earth all emerge from the glass, and it's medium-bodied, up-front, nicely textured, and has a great finish. Readers looking for a classic Pinot Noir that has real varietal character and won't break the bank will absolutely love this. It will keep for 3-5 years. Best After 2022
Thin-skinned, finicky and temperamental, Pinot Noir is also one of the most rewarding grapes to grow and remains a labor of love for some of the greatest vignerons in Burgundy. Fairly adaptable but highly reflective of the environment in which it is grown, Pinot Noir prefers a cool climate and requires low yields to achieve high quality. Outside of France, outstanding examples come from in Oregon, California and throughout specific locations in wine-producing world. Somm Secret—André Tchelistcheff, California’s most influential post-Prohibition winemaker decidedly stayed away from the grape, claiming “God made Cabernet. The Devil made Pinot Noir.”
