2019 Pfendler Vineyards Petaluma Gap Pinot Noir

14.7% alc., 200 cases, $55. Produced and bottled by Pfendler Vineyards, Santa Rosa, CA. 100% Helgren Vineyard, the highest of Pfendler’s three estate vineyards sitting at 2,200 feet on the mountain top above the fog line. Harvested at 24.7º Brix. 50% Swan and 50% Calera selections. 100% de-stemmed, aged 10 months in French oak barrels, 50% new. Winemaker Erica Stancliff. · Moderate garnet color in the glass. Alluring aromas of black cherry, sweet pipe smoke and barnyard. Richly appointed flavors of blackberry, cassis and black tea in a mid-weight plus style. Straightforward and fruit-driven, with modest tannins and a silky mouthfeel, leaving behind a little bitterness and the slightest sense of alcoholic heat. Score: 90. Reviewed April 10, 2021

Winery: Pfendler Vineyards
From article: Various Pinot Noirs Recently Tasted