2012 Donum Estate Grown Carneros Pinot Noir

14.5% alc., pH 3.79, TA 0.60, 766 cases, $72. 84% Donum clone and 16% Dijon 667 clone from the Donum Estate. 6 to 10-day cold soak, punch downs three or four times per day to ensure proper extraction. The fermented wine was left on the skins for two to twelve days. The free run wine underwent malolactic fermentation in barrel and the wine was aged 11 months, at which point the best barrels were selected for the Donum Carneros wine. These barrels were then aged an additional four months, before bottling in February 2014. · Medium reddish purple color in the glass. Generous aromas of earth-kissed blackberry, black raspberry and cassis with a lovely hint of spice and sassafras. Glamorous and stylish on the palate with mid weight flavors of blackberry, blueberry, black cherry and spice, offering an intense attack and a lifted finish. The wine’s firm, but balanced tannic backbone and complimentary oak make for easy approachability. I liked the wine more each time I returned to the glass. Score: 92. Reviewed March 16, 2015

Winery: Donum Estate
From article: The Donum Estate: 2012 Gifts of the Land