Patz & Hall, Santa Lucia Highlands (California) Pinot Noir 2012

One of the questions I get from people about writing wine reviews is, "how do you spit out all of that good wine?" The answer is that, if one doesn’t spit, there’s no way to get through the job and live to tell about it.  But, occasions do arise where a wine comes across my desk that is just too good to not stop for a moment and really savor the experience, and this bottle from the famed Pisoni vineyard and masterfully given life in the glass by James Hall is just such a moment.  There’s so much going on here — deep, brooding black cherry, spiced strawberry, clove, nutmeg, graham cracker and mild damp earth are so well knit together, displaying power and elegance all at once, and lingering through a finish that you’ll need to interrupt with something else if you want it to stop.  You won’t.  Enough said.  Except that it’s also ageworthy.  Bravo!