2015 Wait Cellars Devoto Garden Vineyard Green Valley of Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

13.5% alc., $35. Release summer 2018. Double Gold at 2018 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. The vineyard is a cool and windy site above Sebastopol with vines planted in Goldridge sandy loam. Native fermentation, 10% whole cluster 115 clone and 20% whole cluster “828” clone. Aged 10 months on lees with lees stirring through the winter in French and Hungarian oak barrels, 20% new and 33% once-filled. Bottled unfined and unfiltered. · Moderately dark garnet color in the glass. Aromas of muddled cherry, underbrush, toast and dark chocolate. Mid weight flavors of black cherry, blueberry and pomegranate assembled in a classic style with some breadth of finish that includes a modest rush of tannins. When tasted the following day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle, the tannins had assimilated and the wine had persistent and pleasing fruit pep. Score: 91. Reviewed June 9, 2018

Winery: Wait Cellars
From article: Recently Tasted California Pinot Noir & Chardonnay