2012JKCarriereAntionette2012 J.K. Carriere, Pinot Noir, Antionette, Willamette Valley, Oregon.
Jim Prosser’s latest set of Pinots are majestic and especially gorgeous and outstanding the 2012 Antionette is one of the stars of the vintage. The Antionette is a barrel selection, but it comes mostly from old vine plots at Temperance Hill from what I gather and it shows amazing focus and is wonderfully layered, it was fermented with wild yeast with the wine aged in French oak of which one barrel was new out of the seven made of the 2012 Antionette, a wine named for Jim’s grandmother. The vintage shines through here, this is a lavish and beautifully detailed Pinot Noir with vivid and lush flavors, a deep color and polished silky tannins, but because of the elevation, cool site and vigorous acidity everything is balanced, refined and almost perfect with about 13.5% alcohol, making for a Grand Cru class effort that should age well and drink fantastic for years to come, as well as now. The 2012 Antionette starts with rose petals, violets and currant notes on the nose with subtle cinnamon, briar and flinty spices leading to a densely filled palate of graceful fruits including black cherry, plum and blackberry along with tea spice, clove, anise and mineral tones, light toast and cedar. The finish in this elegant Willamette is lingering with deep fruit that has lengthy staying power with wild strawberry, racy candied citrus and framboise floating in the background, look for savory and natural earthy elements to develop over time and add to the complexity and charm, drink from 2016 to 2024. Wow, what a wine, what a vintage and what a winemaker, this is stunning stuff, I highly recommend grabbing this awesome wine, and checking out all the J.K. Carriere offerings, I was very impressed with everything I tasted from Jim Prosser, in particular this Antionette, but also the Vespidae, Gemini and his 2013 Provocateur were exceptional!
($65 Est.) 95 Points, grapelive

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