Small pours from a great public tasting today. Wines had been opened about 45 minutes prior with an aggressive decanting right before the start of the tasting (and I was among the first- so right after the decanting.)
2015 Cristom Pinot Noir Louise Vineyard
medium red color, sweetish red fruit on the pretty nose but also a strong dose of oak, on the palate very nice ripe cherry tones- black and red- plums, light spice notes, oak less of a presence on the solid mid-weight palate, good finish but with a bit of warmth, drinking nicely now and could develop some with cellaring.
***, now to 2025+
2018 Littorai Pinot Noir Les Larmes
bright plum red color, strawberries and cherries on the alluring nose, pure, on the palate a ripe cuddly fruit, as on the nose- a wonderful purity, moderate palate impact at present but this feels as though it will flesh out further with age, plums, berries, a hint of pepper, good length.
***+, now to 2028+
2016 Rhys Alesia Pinot Noir Santa Cruz Mountains
good red color, game and dark fruits on the lush nose, wild cherries, on the palate fine depth, very primary at present but showing nicely, plums, white mineral streaks, blueberry, cherry, fine spice notes, excellent length, a real beauty drinking nicely now but I would really like to see it with a few years of aging.
(), 2022-2030+
2017 Ceritas Pinot Noir Hellenthal Vineyard Old Shop Block
rich purple color, tight and subdued on the nose at present, hints of cinnamon and dark berries, on the palate most impressive, blueberries, firm tannins, chalk, black fruits, with time a fine intensity of rose petals emerges along with succulent waves of wild cherry fruit, enjoyable today but all the signs are here for an even greater future, my first encounter with this winemaker- and I am a believer. I rarely cellar California Pinot Noir, but a mixed case of these 2017s is going into my cellar.
(**)+, 2025-2035+
2016 Williams Selyem Pinot Noir Weir Vineyard
good deepish red color, vibrant polished nose, pure berry and cherry primary fruit, on the palate classic cherry and bramble tones, dark plum notes, early hints of spice nuances to come, a certain polish note I find in these wines young and old- not unattractive, but most distinctive, a fairly restrained wine today compared to the rest on the table- but experience has shown there is far more to come with cellar time.
(****), 2027-2040
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