2012 Siduri Pinot Noir Six Years Later: Suspended in Time
Adam Lee, Siduri’s winemaker, is kind enough to send me for review two bottles of the Pinot Noirs he produces
each vintage. This gave me the rare opportunity to re-taste a large number of wines several years later and
compare my findings with previous notes and scores.
What I found is that many wines were suspended in time, that is, under screw cap closure they had not
changed appreciably over the six year period and most wines had not yet developed tertiary characteristics
typically associated with aging. My review notes and scores were almost identical (I did not look at my previous
scores and reviews before the tasting) except for a couple of wines and this was probably due to bottle
variation and or loss of appeal with some aging. I felt that the single vineyard wines could easily continue to
offer pleasure for another six years.
2012 Siduri Willamette Valley Pinot Noir Oct 27, 2013 87, August 2018 86 Note: Drinkable but a
straightforward and simple cherry-driven wine that doesn’t hold your interest.
2012 Siduri Hawk’s View Vineyard Willamette Valley Pinot Noir April 19, 2014 92, August 2018 89 Note:
Some subtle tertiary changes with notes of leather, cigar box, game and black tea have developed. Has not
gotten better as I previously predicted.
2012 Siduri Shaw Mountain Vineyard Willamette Valley Pinot Noir October 27, 2012 88, August 2018 90
Note: Very appealing now with waves of fresh black cherry and blackberry fruit flavors, a silky texture and
admirable balance.
2012 Siduri Muirfield Vineyard Willamette Valley Pinot Noir April 19, 2014 90, August 2018 89 Note:
Aromatically alive and bright on the palate, but the finish is way too astringent.
2012 Siduri Arbre Vert Vineyard Willamette Valley Pinot Noir April 19, 2014 89, August 2018 91 Note: This
wine packs a lot of flavor although light in color and the juicy cherry fruit is appealing now.
2012 Siduri Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir October 27, 2013 88, August 2018 88 Note: Simple, fruitdriven,
very ripe but balanced and still fresh.
2012 Siduri Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir April 19, 2014 90, August 2018 86 Note: Probably an off bottle as nose
delivered scents of prune, mowed warm grass and fig and the flavor profile was unpleasant with a noticeable
burnt, vegetal overtone.
2012 Siduri Russian River Valley Pinot NoirOctober 27, 2013 88, August 2018 88 Note: Fruit veers to very
ripe side with plenty of black cherry sap, and a slight sense of alcohol on finish.
2012 Siduri Sonatera Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir April 19, 2014 89, August 2018 89 Note: Over
ripened fruit detracts and oak veers its head.
2012 Siduri Pratt Vineyard-Sexton Road Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir October 27, 2013 94, August 2018 92
Note: Significant toasty oak but otherwise superb.
2012 Siduri Hirsch Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir April 19, 2014 91, August 2018 91 Note: Pleasing
still with fruit that aspires to a higher calling. The astringent finish detracts slightly.
2012 Siduri Lingenfelder Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir April 19, 2014 90, August 2018 91
Note: Quintessential Russian River Valley in character with a soothing texture from judicious tannins.
2012 Siduri Ewald Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir April 19, 2014 90, August 2018 89 Note: A
potent, very ripely fruited wine that is about as big as Pinot gets. That said, the balance is pretty good with only
a hint of alcoholic warmth on the finish. Have to score this wine high for its exuberant fruit reflecting a warm
site.
2012 Siduri Bucher Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir October 27, 2013 88, August 2018 88 Note:
A little too earthy, vegetal, oaky and smoky for my taste.
2012 Siduri Van der Kamp Vineyard Sonoma Mountain Pinot Noir April 19, 2014, 91, August 2018 90 Note:
Somewhat woody/oaky nose prevents higher score.
2012 Siduri John Sebastiano Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir April 19, 2014 94, August 2018 93 Note:
My favorite wine of this vintage except Pisoni Vineyard (not reviewed again here).
2012 Siduri Cargasacchi Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir October 27, 2013 94, August 2018 92 Note:
More tannic over time detracts slightly.
2012 Siduri Rosella’s Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir April 19, 2014 88, August 2018 91 Note:
Oak and tannins became integrated over time and the fruit had picked up intensity. Slight alcohol on finish.
2012 Siduri Soberanes Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir April 19, 2014 90, August 2018 92
2012 Siduri Sierra Mar Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir October 27, 2013, 93, August 2018 92
