Patz & Hall has made a bottling from this Martinelli family vineyard since 2002. A former hillside apple orchard, the vineyard was picked just before the rains came in 2011, delivering a wine at 13.6% alcohol, which is extremely low for the typical Patz & Hall style. It’s light in color in body, but long on flavor and aroma, showing cherry, strawberry, bright cinnamon, cola and an attractive cedar spice note. It’s very drinkable right now, with a long, elegant finish that shows seamless integration and a soft grip that keeps you coming back.
Patz & Hall, Russian River Valley (Sonoma County, California) Pinot Noir 2011
By Rich Cook