The McWilliams family may have only started their winery in 2002, but they clearly know their way around Pinot Noir. This particular one of their stable is from a block of their Westside Road vineyard. It’s quite a refined Pinot Noir with aromas of cherry, raspberry and spicy notes of cinnamon and clove. On the palate the fruit is lush yet tempered with distinctive acidity and silky tannins. The oak complements rather than conquers, adding complexity and integration. It drinks well now, but clearly has the structure to age.
Arista, Russian River Valley (Sonoma County, California) Pinot Noir 2010
By Rebecca Murphy