2012 Sheldon, Pinot Noir, Roma’s Vineyard, Anderson Valley.
Dylan and Tobe Sheldon have been at the forefront of the movement to make delicate, low alcohol, and balanced wines and join the likes of Littorai, Copain, Drew, Cobb, Wind Gap, Hirsch and others in giving this style of Pinot Noir a serious presence in the market place. While the Sheldon’s have moved more to their own beat than fashion or trend, their wines have always been lighter and minimalist in style, especially their Pinot Noir, like this 2012 Sheldon Roma’s Vineyard from Anderson Valley, a vineyard that sits high on a ridge top, planted in 1992 to Pommard clone on loamy goldridge soils. In recent years the Sheldon’s had to fight with bears to get fruit from this vineyard, it seems bears are into cool climate Pinot these days too. The 2012 Roma’s starts with youthful freshness and shows tart cherry, plum and raspberry along with dried figs, hay, tea spice and sweet herbs. This wine opens in the glass, be sure to swirl gently, and admire it’s pale ruby hue while it unwinds and fills out, in fact it tasted even better the second day with lots of strawberry and truffle coming through. There is a savory and saline note too, and that strawberry influence mixes with a touch of rhubarb, anise and cranberry on the finish, plus hints of baking spice, dusty stones and soft wood shadings. 2012 is a generous vintage and at 13.5% this is not a lean/green or thin wine, but it is a tad shy at present, best to give another 6 months to a year to see it fully awake, with time I think this might rival their best efforts with this grape, for those that want subtlety and purity this might be the wine for you, the 2012 Roma’s is suburb.
($48 Est.) 93 Points, grapelive
