Patz & Hall’s Hyde Vineyard Pinot Noir is a remarkable achievement given the problems so many had with the weather in this generally poor vintage. Unlike many 2011 Pinots that are thin and deficient in color, the P&H Hyde is a beauty, packed with bright strawberry and raspberry fruit, and wonderfully balanced. The wine shows an array of baking spices (clove, cinnamon, etc.) on the nose, with a gentle hint of vanilla and forest floor. On the palate, the wine is smooth and supple, with refined tannins and a long, polished finish.
Patz & Hall, Carneros (Napa Valley, California) Pinot Noir 2011
By Robert Whitley