More Sips of Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

2012 Chanamé Angel Camp & Charles Vineyards Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

14.2% alc., pH 3.21, TA 0.57, 49 cases, $45. Harvest Brix 23.5º. 100% de-stemmed, Aged 14 months in Sonoma Mountain caves in 50% new French oak. Unfined and unfiltered. · Moderate reddish purple color in the glass. Shy, but appealing aromas of cherry pie glaze and red raspberry preserves. Vivid flavors of cherry, cranberry and raspberry with a hint of spice and sandalwood. Very juicy, with bright acidity and immersed tannins, building in the mouth to a climatic finish. An impressive wine that has an uplifting freshness and impeccable balance. Even better the following day flaunting a glorious and vibrant cherry presence. Score: 93

2011 Foursight “Zero New Oak” Charles Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

13.5% alc., pH 3.73, TA 0.58, 121 cases, $38. Released May 2014. 2011 was the coldest vintage since Charles Vineyard was planted. Clones 777, 115, 114 and Pommard 5. Aged in second-year and older barrels. 10% whole clusters, wild yeast and wild ML cultures. Unfined and unfiltered. · Light garnet color in the glass. Aromas of red cherries and berries with a hint of briar and herbs. Soft and smooth on the palate, somewhat delicate, and quite enjoyable for its fresh red cherry and berry fruits encased in polished tannins. A fruity, easy to enjoy wine that features the purity of unplugged Pinot Noir fruit. Score: 89

2011 Foursight Charles Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

13.7% alc., pH 3.71, TA 0.58, 121 cases, $. Released May 2014.Crafted from all four clones in the vineyard: 777, 115, 114 and Pommard 5. 10% whole clusters, native yeast and native ML cultures. Aged in 40% new and 60% three+-year-old French oak barrels. Unracked, unfined, unfiltered. · Light garnet color in the glass. More flamboyant on the nose with aromas of black cherries, spice and sweet oak. A very lovely wine that is seductively polished and seamless, featuring a plethora of sweet cherry goodness accented with spicy oak. Score: 90

2011 Foursight Clone 05 Charles Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

14.2% alc., pH 3.71, TA 0.59, 125 cases, $49. Released October 2013. 100% Pommard clone 05. 10% whole clusters, wild yeast and wild ML cultures. Aged in 66% new and 34% 3-year-old and older French oak barrels. · Moderately light reddish purple color in the glass. A penetrating nose flush with aromas of black pie cherries, dried herbs, brewed tea and toasty oak. Very flavorful, with impressive fullness and plushness on the palate, featuring flavors of dark red cherry and berry with a touch of cola. Soft and silky with a cherry-driven finish embellished with a deft touch of oak. I have said it many times, Pommard is my paramour. Score: 92

2011 Goldeneye Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

14.5% alc., 12,626 cases, $55. 90% of grapes are from estate vineyards with the remainder from vineyards in the warmer, southernmost part of the valley. 4 vineyards, 19 clones. Aged 16 months in 70% new French oak barrels. · Moderately light reddish purple color in the glass. The aromas of black cherry, raspberry, exotic spice and toasty oak leap out of the glass. Mid to full bodied core of well-ripened dark cherry and berry fruits with a hint of spice and a modest oak sheen. Forward and friendly, with modest tannins and some finishing intensity. Score: 90

2011 Goldeneye Gowan Creek Vineyard Estate Grown Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

14.5% alc., 927 cases, $80. 8 clones grown on several rootstocks. Wild pennyroyal grows at Gowan Creek and can often be tasted in the wine. · Moderate reddish purple color in the glass. Shy, but pleasant aromas of dark raspberry, dark strawberry and oak. A little more structured, more intensely flavored and displaying a more generous finish than the Anderson Valley bottling, with tastes of dark berries, dark chocolate and cola complimented by well integrated oak. Needs time to open in the glass and will benefit from further cellaring, but hard to resist now. Score: 92

2011 Goldeneye Confluence Vineyard Estate Grown Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

14.5% alc., 303 cases, $80. Dijon and Pommard clones and heritage selections. · Moderate reddish purple color in the glass. Very aromatic, with waves of dark berry, crushed plum, rose petal and sweet oak aromas. Full-bodied flavors of cherry pie, dark berry jam, and toasty oak. Tremendous concentration of fruit sap but held in check by a healthy tannin structure. Excellent oak management. Finishes very long with a flourish of ripe black cherry fruit. A robust wine that is rich and luscious. Score: 93

2011 Goldeneye Ten Degrees Estate Grown Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

14.5% alc., 579 cases, $115. Drawn from the best blocks and barrels from estate vineyards, it is made up of the top 1.5% of estate grown Pinot Noir. The wine is a result of more than 50 trial blends of wines from Gowan Creek, Confluence and Split Rail vineyards (96 blocks and 49 combinations of clones and rootstocks). · Moderate reddish purple color in the glass. Lovely aromas of black cherry, black raspberry, sweet oak and rose petal build in intensity over time in the glass. Juicy and bright on the palate, with a special energy and vibe, featuring an array of berry and stone fruits complimented by oak. This wine has the structure and balance to age ten years and beyond. A connoisseur’s wine of uncommon grace and composition that easily justifies its lofty price. Score: 94

2012 La Crema Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

14.4% alc., pH 3.80, TA 0.52, 2,014 cases, $50. Sourced primarily from Maggy Hawk Estate Vineyard. Wädenswil, Pommard, 115, 777 and 667 clones.100% destemmed, 70% whole berries in tank, 5-day cold soak, fermented in open tanks, aged 9 months in 38% new French oak. · Moderate reddish purple color in the glass. Restrained, but pleasant aromas of black cherry, rose petal and seasoned oak. Mid to full bodied core of fresh black cherry fruit that is generous on the palate and finishes with good intensity. The tannins are balanced and the mouthfeel is silky. Straightforward and fruit-driven, but hard to ignore. Better over time in the glass which is always a good sign. Score: 90

2012 Navarro Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

14.2% alc., $19.50. · Moderately light reddish purple color in the glass. Vibrant aromas of Bing cherry and raspberry lead to a mid weight, pleasurable wine featuring flavors of black cherry, black raspberry and plum with a hint of anise and spice. Plenty of sap to satisfy, with impressive finishing intensity and length. A forward drinking wine with good balance that has an impressive finish for a value priced offering. Score: 90

2012 Navarro Méthode Á L’Ancienne Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

14.1% alc., $29. · Medium reddish purple color in the glass. The nose is reserved initially, opening nicely over time in the glass to reveal scents of red cherry, herb garden and floral goodness. More polished and less ripe fruit flavored than the Anderson Valley bottling. The cherry fruit really stands out in this mid weight wine with additional accents of raspberry and baking spices. Very sleek and refined and quite forward. Does not have the fruit-filled finish of the Anderson Valley bottling, but is a more high-collared, sophisticated offering. Score: 92

2012 Navarro Deep End Blend Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

14.3% alc., $49. Sourced from Middle Ridge, Marking Corral, Garden Spot and South Hill vineyards. · Moderate reddish purple color in the glass. The nose is both exotic and fruity, offering scents of dark cherries, black raspberries and redwood forest. A beautiful wine in all respects with plenty of spicy black cherry and black raspberry fruit supported by integrated fine-grain tannins, and an intensely fruited finish. This wine has a special texture which is hard to describe, but stands out from the other two 2012 Pinot Noir bottlings from Navarro. So juicy and tasty, you can “nibble” at it. Score: 94

2012 Stemmler Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

14.1% alc., pH 3.90, TA 0.57, 117 cases, $44. Released May 2014. Inaugural release from the Angel Camp Vineyard in the “deep end” of the Anderson Valley. Dijon clones “828,” 115, 667 and 777 plus Pommard and Wädenswil clones, and David Bruce, Swan, and Martini selections. Indigenous yeast fermentations. Aged 15 months in 20% new Remond French oak barrels. · Moderately dark reddish purple color in the glass. The richly fruited nose explodes with aromas of dark berries and cherries and the wondrous smell of wine cave. Very suave and seductive on the palate, with waves of dark berry and plum fruit balanced with refined tannins. Packs plenty of pleasure, although not as appealing the following day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle indicating it is a wine for current drinking. Score: 90

2012 Twomey Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

14.1% alc., $46. Released May 1, 2014. Sourced from Monument Tree Vineyard and Ferrington Vineyard. Aged 11 months sur lie in 50% new French oak. · Moderate reddish purple color in the glass. Aromas of raspberry coulis, cherry, blackberry, dark chocolate and oak are echoed on the mid weight palate. Pleasant and solid, with good balance and some finish, but nothing stands out. Score: 89

2012 WALT Blue Jay Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

14.9% alc., 3,688 cases, $40. Sourced from Anderson Creek (a warmer site) and Savoy ( a cool site in the “deep end”) vineyards. Native yeast fermentation, aged in 40% new French oak. Unfined and unfiltered. · Moderate reddish purple hue in the glass. Very shy nose becoming somewhat more aromatic over time in the glass to reveal scents of black cherry, violets and spice. Light to mid weight flavors of blueberries and black raspberries. Soft tannins, straightforward, and easy to drink with a complimentary touch of oak in the background. Score: 88

2012 WALT The Corners Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

15.2% alc., 473 cases, $65. Dijon 667 sourced from Anderson Creek and Annahala vineyards in the Boonville region in the southeastern corner of the Anderson Valley AVA. Native yeast fermentation, aged in 45% new French oak. Unfined and unfiltered. · Moderately dark reddish purple color in the glass. Brooding dark fruits on the nose lead to middleweight flavors of black fruits and tarry oak. The fruit is buried in muscular tannins and the wine finishes hot. A rather simple, fruit-driven wine that is undistinguished. Score: 86

2012 WALT Savoy Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

14.5% alc., 414 cases, $65. Native yeast fermentation, aged in 50% new French oak. Unfined and unfiltered. · Dark reddish purple color in the glass. A full-bodied wine featuring an array of dark fruits including blackberries and plums with a prominent oak presence. Very seamless, with integrated tannins, and seems to slip off the palate like silk. A high brow wine that can age, but appealing now. Score: 89

2010 Woodenhead Wiley Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

14.5% alc., pH 3.61, TA 0.55, 296 cases, $60. 28-year-old vines (Pommard 5 and Romanee-Conti 37). Unfined and unfiltered. This wine really caught my attention at the Grand Tasting at the Anderson Valley Pinot Noir Festival. · Moderately dark reddish purple color in the glass. Definitely some pennyroyal on the nose with added scents of blackberries, tea, and spice. Very dark fruited, this wine is flush with black raspberry, black cherry and black tea notes that envelope the palate. The dreamy tannins offer a fine-grain texture and the oak hits all the right notes. This wine has the stuffing to age beautifully, but is very hard to resist now. A magnificent wine from one of Anderson Valley’s most esteemed vineyards. Score: 94