Benziger Family Winery, Russian River Valley (Sonoma County, California) Pinot Noir 2010

Still in the boost phase of its development, this lovely wine remains just a bit shy in terms of aromatic expressiveness, but the emerging notes show a lovely combination of cola, red cherry, and wild strawberry fruit notes.  The flavors echo these same signals, but more forcefully, yet the wine remains admirably — even surprisingly — delicate and light.  There’s a notable touch of sweetness in the finish that won’t endear it to lovers of young Burgundy, but it is appropriate to the wine’s place of origin, and a few years in bottle will get that sweetness to integrate with the wine’s other characteristics.  Excellent already, this will get better still, and at $28 that makes it a steal.  Platinum Award winner at the 2013 San Diego International Wine Competition.