Once again winemaker James Hall’s deft touch with Pinot Noir is reflected in his handling of the 2013 vintage from the Russian River Valley’s Burnside Vineyard. This one shows uber ripe fruit, with layers of succulent blackberry, plum and raspberry. Richly textured yet elegantly balanced, this fleshy pinot is supple enough to drink now but exhibits the requisite grip to age nicely over the next decade. It shows a pleasing note of forest floor and cola, with a persistence through the finish that is lingering and memorable.
Patz & Hall, Russian River Valley (Sonoma County) Pinot Noir 2013
By Robert Whitley