2013 Windy Oaks Estate, Pinot Noir “Diane’s Block” Charmant Mountain Vineyard, Santa Cruz Mountains.
This is another brilliant effort from Windy Oaks and marks the beauty of 2013 in the south Santa Cruz Mountains, one of the best “Diane’s Block” to date with multi-layered finesse and texture. The Windy Oaks Estate has a small vineyard close to Aptos, now called Charmant Mountain Vineyard, this is the source for Diane’s Block and it is at a slightly lower elevation and a touch warmer, making it a perfect spot for a generous and forward wine with silky mouth feel, but still with cool climate vibrancy and charm. I tasted the Diane’s Block along side two of the Estate offerings, and while all the 2013 Windy Oaks Pinots are wonderful and skillfully crafted, the Diane’s Block stood out at this time with lovely heightened aromatics, long lingering fruit and sublime delicacy. The light ruby hue and subtle perfume draw you in and the palate is richly detailed with black cherry, strawberry and dried currant and to the rose petal and crushed violets with spice, cedar and tangy cranberry. The wine unfolds to deliver a creamy and plum laced mid palate and the finish has a hint of saline, warm stone and vanilla/toast as well as lengthy anise infused raspberry and briar, fruit and acidity are already singing together in great voice here. This is a very seductive wine and it should only dial it up over the next 3 to 5 years, drink from 2016 to 2018.
($45 Est.) 92 Points, grapelive
