Robert Parker Jr's The Wine Advocate
Issue #166
The 2002 Pinot Noir Estate reveals aromas and flavors of white chocolate, mocha, sweet berries, spice, ripe fruit, and an unusual cola note. It will keep for a decade.
YEAR: 2002
PRODUCTION: 601
REVIEWS:
Dullish medium red. Aromas of cherry and strawberry liqueur, black current, gunpowder, cola, smoke and spices. Strawberry and mocha flavors are given shape by edgy acidity. Finishes with rooty spices and fairly pronounced acids. This will go underbrushy as it evolves in bottles, but has the structure to age gracefully. Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar
Estate Bottled Pinot Noir 2002-WE
TASTING NOTES:
Release Date: Winter/Spring 2006
Since my winemaking career started in 1981 there have been some great years for Pinot Noir worldwide: 1985, 1988, 1996, and 2002. What aligns the winegrowing stars to create this uniformity in California, Oregon and France I haven’t a clue…
The 2002 is bigger and fatter than most recent vintages, boasting a nose of great ripeness with aromas of plum, blueberry and black cherry. Deep, concentrated and powerful, it coats the mouth with soft red fruit in combination with our signature mountain terroir.
Luxurious and sensual, stand this wine up for a few days (I don’t know why but it works!) and pour it into a good Pinot Noir glass. You will be rewarded.
TECH NOTES:
- Yield: 2 tons per acre
- Harvest: September 5th-9th
- Numbers @ Harvest: 23.2 Brix, 3.65 pH, 6.6 grams acidity
- Barrel Regimen: Burgundy 50% new
- Bottling: September 2003 no fining or filtration;
