2017 Mansfield-Dunne Cortada Alta Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir

14.5% alc., pH 3.79, TA 0.53, RS < 0.1 g/L. 300 cases, $58. Release May 1, 2019. Clones “828,” Mariafeld, Pommard 5, 667, Swan, Calera 2A and 943. Aged 10 months in French oak barrels, 64% new. · Moderately dark garnet color in the glass. Blackberry fruit and smoky oak aromas combine on the nose. Mid weight flavors of blackberry and cassis that are overlain with smoky oak. Somewhat brooding, with some drying tannins on the finish. When tasted the following day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle, less oak infused the nose but the finish continued to show a slightly bitter, charred character. Score: 88. Reviewed April 16, 2019

Winery: Mansfield-Dunne
From article: Recently Tasted California Wines