2013 Anthill Farms, Pinot Noir, Baker Ranch Vineyard, Anderson Valley.
The absolutely beautiful 2013 Anthill Farms Baker Ranch Pinot is one of my favorite of the vintage with everything you could ask for in a medium bodied vibrant wine with heady perfume, energy, lacy fruit and stylish grace. While the 2010, 2011 and 2012 vintages were solid performers, this 2013 takes it to another level with gorgeous underlying texture and silky long length, while still being vital and vigorously complex with highly entertaining layer after layer, definitely one of the best yet from Anthony Filiberti and the team at Anthill Farms. On a side note, it will be intriguing to see how Filiberti does at Hirsch Vineyards after he gets settled in there, and if you can’t get get enough of Anthill Farms, be sure to check out Anthony’s Knez wines, they are very compelling as well. The Baker ranch 2013, from a plot of sandstone on a steep grade not far from Philo, starts with alluring wilted roses, raspberry and delicate mineral tones with light slightly clouded ruby hue in the glass and deep black cherry, plum, strawberry and tangy red currant fruit around which revolves hints of cinnamon, dusty earth, spiced tea with juicy acidity keeping everything fresh and light on the palate. This is fresh, lower alcohol style, and exciting Pinot Noir is crafted with care and talent using native yeast and mostly used french barrels, it also shows touches of blood orange, red peach, cedar, wild anise and just a trace of toast/vanilla that adds to the whole balanced feel, everything flows with focus and finesse, gaining a real presence and depth with air. This is very impressive and seductively lovely now, but should be even more rewarding in 3 to 5 years time, best from 2018 to 2026.
($56 Est.) 94 Points, grapelive