Navarro Vineyards, Anderson Valley (Mendocino County, California) Pinot Noir 2014

Navarro produced a stellar line up of Pinot Noir in the 2014 vintage.  Occasionally they will produce both a filtered and an unfiltered version of this bottling, and it’s fun to see what the differences are for the few additional dollars you’ll pay for the latter version.  It’s a boldly flavored and perhaps slightly more rustic version, meaning that the structure comes across with a bit more chewy texture rather than their usual silky presentation.  That’s not at all a negative here, with rich black cherry, sage, cinnamon and a clove note sailing right through the mouth feel and finishing with staying power.  Ageworthy, and a nice alternative to the elegant filtered version.