2011 La Montagne Huber Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir

50 cases, $55. From an older vineyard first planted in 1987. Clone 115. Aged 18 months in 50% new and 50% neutral French oak barrels. · Medium reddish-purple color in the glass. The nose is aloof initially, offering little fruit. On the palate, the wine tastes of tar and oily oak, with a modicum of dark berry flavor that is rather bland. The mouth feel is silky and the tannins are well managed. Tasted the next day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle, the fruit still had not shown up on the nose which exhibited aromas of dusty oak, stem and underbrush, and the flavor profile had not changed. Tasted twice. Score: 84. Reviewed February 22, 2014

Winery: La Montagne
From article: Sips of Recently Tasted Wines