Bright ruby-red. Black raspberry, candied flowers and Asian spices on the highly perfumed nose. Juicy, penetrating and pure, offering vibrant, spice-accented red and dark berry flavors and a building smoky nuance. At once weighty and lively on the back end, finishing with superb energy and focus and slow-building, fine-grained tannins. I find this sexy pinot very appealing right now but this bottling has a stellar track record for aging. Savory herbs, mint, licorice and smoke meld into a core of expressive dark red fruit in the 2011 Pinot Noir. The 2011 doesn’t quite have the power of the 2009 or 2010, but in exchange it should offer a more complete drinking experience earlier than those wines. The 2011 was vinified with 33% whole clusters.Steve Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar
Antonio Galloni presents Vinous
Release Date: Fall 2013
The signature of this vintage is its preciousness. Once in a while (2005 was the last) we have a storm blow in during the critical flowering period which is May through June. Such was the case on June 4th and 5th, 2011, right in the middle of the most crucial time for pollination, a winter-like storm appeared and the Pinot Noir flowers were reduced by two-thirds. Farming has its moments.
Fortunately, the vintage itself was exceptional for Pinot Noir. Cool overall and late, which translates to an even, slow ripening at the end.
A racy high-toned nose reveals a deep core of raspberry-blueberry-mint and visceral essence of Pinot fruit. On the palate the flavors are buoyant with intense red fruit, spice and tension. The aftertaste promises a long life with impressive persistence.
This is a classic old world style from one of America’s oldest Pinot Noir producers.
