This bottle shows the funky side of Russian River Pinot in this vintage, delivering rich damp earth character over black cherry and mushroom notes. Taut acidity keeps this from turning muddy and lets the layers of flavor keep re-presenting on the palate. A portion of the fruit was fermented whole cluster, and the final blend is deeply attractive thanks to the spice tones that the procedure affords.
Ladera Vineyards, Russian River Valley (Sonoma County, California) Pinot Noir 2019
By Rich Cook