2015 Gary Farrell McDonald Mountain Vineyard Clone 667 20% Whole Cluster Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

14.0% alc., pH 3.23, TA 0.76, 90 cases, $70. Black label indicating this is a special winemaker bottling. Vineyard is located in the cool Sebastopol Hills and was planted in 2008 in Goldridge soil. Two adjacent blocks of 667 produce seductive wines and the winemaker could not bring herself to blend it away. 80% de-stemmed, 20% whole cluster. 5-day cold soak, 10-15 day extended post-fermentation maceration. Aged 16 months on primary lees in French oak barrels, 40% new. · Dark garnet color in the glass. This wine must be decanted for full enjoyment as it is very shy and monolithic upon opening. My remarks refer to tasting the wine 8 hours after opening. The nose is quite exotic and seductive, offering aromas of crushed blackberries, cassis, dried herbs and sweet oak. Well-endowed with a core of black cherry, black raspberry, and cardamom spice backed by ripe tannins. The lively acidity drives a juicy, succulent experience. The finish offers an echo of dark fruits that are both aromatically engaging and persistent. Score: 94. Reviewed July 21, 2018

Winery: Gary Farrell Vineyards & Winery
From article: Recent Sips of Pinot Noir & Chardonnay