This wine came in the shipper in November. I know this is the first release of Wendling, which I believe the fruit is going to just Copain and Littorai. Like with Kiser and Bearwallow, it is way up at the far-ass north end of the Anderson Valley, all in the same neighborhood alongside 128. I rank the Kiser pinots as one of the best in my cellar, I love that plot so I am curious as to this property and how it will show in the years ahead. As to this wine, I suspect we will finish it tonight so I offer the note here, and I’ll share it with Brig Campbell, who perhaps will share his impressions, too. This is a great start for a young plot.
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2012 Copain Pinot Noir Wendling Vineyard - USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley (1/2/2015)
I’ll be the first guy into the mix with a TN. I remember about 2 years back taking a photo of the vineyard from across the road at Kiser. If I recall, Wendling is literally across the street from it, which also puts it damn close to Bearwallow, too. To the wine, having just pulled this from the cellar and into the glass…the immediate impression is some burg features–shows soil and sour cherry notes, tannin palate. Aromatically, an herbal note (not stemmy, not that but cracked spices). As it sits, the wine starts to get a black cherry feel, with the spice getting into the wine now, adding a bit of spicy cherry. Feeling a little like an Arcadian, in that style/vein…another 90 mins of air, this begins to add a good dollop of blue fruit, with the same black cherry, and some of the AV red apple that is often a part of Copain’s AV cuvees. Yet, even in these tones, there is still the old-world soily, cherry finish. This is a young wine for sure, so as with Joe’s Arcadian wines, I wonder where this wine will head in 5-8 years, where the best Arcadian PNs evolve to? This is very good, distinctive like the Copain Kisers, and while not far off from those flavors, it does have a unique impression that I will look forward to trying again. Dig it.
Posted from CellarTracker