2011 Longboard Vineyards Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

14.3% alc., $33. 100% de-stemmed, 3-day cold soak, aged on the lees in 30% new French oak barrels until late spring. The wines are racked and blended in the spring and aged another 6 months in barrels before bottling in late fall. · Moderate reddish-purple hue in the glass. The nose unfolds slowly over time in the glass, releasing aromas of dark cherries, raspberries, cranberries and toasty oak. Moderately rich and juicy with very ripe cherry flavor emerging over time accented with mocha and cola, showing a bit of tarry oak in the background. The plentiful tannin and oak needs time to integrate. Tasted the following day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle, the fruit profile veered quite noticeably to the ripe side. Good. Reviewed June 23, 2013

Winery: Longboard Vineyards
From article: Sips of California Pinot Noir