Winemaker Notes
Layers of smashed cherries, fresh raspberries, and dried lavender showcase this wine’s balance between concentration and complexity. Dark and full-bodied, dusty tannins and supple acidity lead to a long finish of barrel spices, nutmeg, and rooibos tea. This is one of our most ageable wines.
Professional Ratings
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2021 Pinot Noir Magic Moments Hyde Vineyard comes from vines planted in 1979, and the wine was matured for 17 months in 80% new French oak. It takes you on an aromatic journey, beginning with raspberry, strawberry and pomegranate and then opening to leather, tobacco, mixed tea leaves, underbrush, aniseed and bitters. The medium-bodied palate features concentrated, youthfully coiled flavors. It's light on its feet with finely chalky tannins and fireworks of fresh acidity, and it has a very long, spicy finish. This pairs power and latency and will be long lived in the cellar.
-
Jeb Dunnuck
The 2021 Pinot Noir Magic Moments Hyde Vineyard was all destemmed and brought up in 80% new French oak. This medium ruby-hued Carneros Pinot Noir has fabulous aromatics of wild strawberries, raspberries, underbrush, and white pepper. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it's another seamless, pure, incredibly polished 2021 offering ripe, integrated tannins and a great finish.
As early as the 1970s Carneros became known as a source of terrific Pinot Noir, and was one of the first California regions to gain such a reputation. The combination of sunny days, cooling fog and thin clay soils are tailor-made for the variety. Another factor in Pinot Noir’s prominent place here is vintners’ willingness to experiment widely. The history of the grape in Carneros is marked by continuous research into clonal variations, viticultural techniques and site selection. Careful evaluation over time has revealed a signature flavor profile as well. Complex aromas and flavors of cherry, red berry, spice, earth and cola appear time and again in Carneros Pinot Noir. To this day the appellation remains one of California’s standard bearers for the variety.