This wine has intoxicating marionberry and blueberry aromas and flavors, and rooty sarsaparilla tones, yet it boasts a well-mannered 13.5% alcohol. The fruit is well-ripened and voluptuous on entry, and the supple tannins and gentle vanillin oak notes beautifully frame the exotic fruitiness. On the finish, it’s all about freshness and crisp acidity. Just a babe, this Pinot will definitely benefit from cellaring.
Dutton-Goldfield, Green Valley (Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California) Pinot Noir 2011
By Linda Murphy