Alysian, Russian River Valley (Sonoma County, California) Pinot Noir 2008

 From another portion of Hambrecht’s Floodgate Vineyard comes this youthful, exotic wine.  It’s the most flamboyant of the Alysian Pinot Noirs (flamboyant being relative to the other four wines).  It’s actually well-mannered and elegant, with scents of violets and wild berries, and a palate of forward, plump blackberry and Bing cherry fruit.  While enjoyable now, this teenager will likely benefit from a year or two in the cellar, when the complexity elements that are currently in the background come out of their shell.  For the really patient, give it a decade.