2011 Fort Ross, Pinot Noir “Sea Slopes” Fort Ross Vineyard, Fort Ross-Sea View, Sonoma Coast.
Another stunning success and a top value in extreme cool climate Pinot, a great follow up to the 2010 version, in fact I would say Jeff Pisoni out did that great effort, especially considering the difficult vintage. With talent and a tiny crop comes this 2011 Pinot that shows expressive Burgundy like class and California details with violets, dried roses, kirsch and framboise leading to morello cherry, plum and cranberry berry with wild strawberry, earthy loam, mineral and spice all adding interest while subtle French oak shadings, smoke, truffle and cola linger with raspberry on the finish. There is racy acidity and ultra fine tannins giving structure and this wine should fill out and develop nicely for another 3 to 5 years.
($36 Est.) 93 Points, grapelive
