Pinot Noir Around the World

From a great site in the Russian River Valley and just about all destemmed and aged 16 months in 55% new French oak, the 2017 Pinot Noir Treehouse Vineyard reveals a slightly deeper ruby/purple hue as well as more black cherry and slightly darker fruits that give way to more spice, violet, bouquet garni, and white flower notes with time in the glass. Medium to full-bodied and balanced, with ripe tannins and a classic Burgundian style, it's another stunning Pinot Noir from this estate that can be drunk today or cellared for over a decade. Drink 2020-2032

{***}{region}California, USA{region}
{color}Red{color}
{vintage}2017{vintage}
{maturity}ready-keep{maturity}
{maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{ratings}

[]James Suckling::97/100

[]Wine Advocate::92/100

[]Wine Spectator::95/100

[]Jeb Dunnuck::96/100 {ratings} {***}

Brought up in 45% new French oak, the 2017 Pinot Noir Bootlegger's Hill Vineyard reveals a medium ruby/translucent color as well as a complex bouquet of redcurrants, leafy herbs, damp earth, iodine, and spice. Medium to full-bodied, with an elegant texture, lots of classic Russian River spice, and outstanding length. it shows the more elegant streamlined style of the vintage, yet I suspect it's going to age gracefully. Give bottles 2-3 years and it should keep for a decade. Another estate that has changed their style (for the better, I think), Kosta Browne’s latest 2018s have beautiful purity and elegance as well as richness. They’re certainly in the top handful of wines in this report. Drink 2022-2032.
Jeb Dunnuck, jebdunnuck.com (May 2020)

{***}{region}California, USA{region}
{color}Red{color}
{vintage}2017{vintage}
{maturity}ready-keep{maturity}
{maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{ratings}

[]James Suckling::96/100

[]Wine Advocate::91/100

[]Wine Spectator::91/100

[]Jeb Dunnuck::94/100 {ratings} {***}

This wine is from three parcels in Vosne-Romanée: a generic section of Combe d’Orveaux, La Croix Blanche and Les Pâquiers. In 2021, it also has a third of the production of the village Vosne included in it. The wine is bursting with fruit, with high tones of cherry and cranberry. These flavours are all carried through to the palate which is full and rounded with a nice sapid twist.

Drink 2023 - 2030

Berry Bros. & Rudd

Although it is from a sandy vineyard, this wine always surprises with its creamy texture. This is even more apparent since Jean-Oierre's adoption of his en pont and nuages techniques. The wine is very floral this year, alongside the signature creaminess. A mineral grip unfolds on the finish making it a very complete wine. Drink 2025-2035.

This is a charming and delightful example of everything I love about 2017 reds: pale ruby, a seductive perfume of red berries, rose petals and a dash of pepper. The palate is open and pretty, with juicy, crunchy redcurrant and strawberry fruit, mouth-watering acidity, and delicate, silken tannins. The finish has a chalky limestone freshness and a touch of creamy, spicy oak that will integrate further with time, though it may prove difficult to resist the temptation to enjoy this wine's wonderful balance and charm now.

Adam Bruntlett, Senior Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd

A cool site giving low pH wines (higher acidity). Mid purple in colour with no great depth, an elegant light red fruit nose, strict, fresh raspberry and alpine strawberry. - Jasper Morris MW

{***}{region}Gevrey-Chambertin{region}
{color}Red{color}                                                               

 {maturity}laying-down{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will improve{maturity-text}
{vintage}2017{vintage}
{ratings}      [] Jasper Morris :: 89-93/100   
 
{ratings}{***}

The 2021 Pinot Noir (Sonoma Coast) is bright, focused and finely cut. Dark cherry/plum, fruit, lavender and spice are nicely delineated in a vibrant, mid-weight Pinot that introduces this range with a bang. All the elements are very nicely balanced. Vineyard sites are Bohan, McDougall and Falstaff.

Drink 2024 - 2033

Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com (August 2023)

This Sta. Rita Hills-focused label between Justin Willett and Étienne de Montille takes a 'low and slow' approach to the winemaking process, contrasting the relatively delicate, high-toned style of the Tyler wines. Pinot Noir at La Rinconada Vineyard tends to exude a burly and structured style, as is the case with the 2018 Racines bottling. Sourced from a plot just feet away from that which supplies Tyler, a savoury and soft nose introduces a weighty, wide and tannic showing that is built to last.

Drink 2022 - 2045

Matthew Luczy, Decanter.com (July 2020)

Racines is a collaboration between Tyler Winery’s Justin Willett, Domaine de Montille’s Étienne de Montille and Brian Sieve, and Rodolphe Péters of Champagne Pierre Péters, working with entirely Sta. Rita Hills fruit. For the most part, the entire lineup levels up the intensity and structure of the Tyler wines, as is the case with their Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir. Sourced from multiple sites across the appellation with a backbone of La Encantada Vineyard. Meaty, dense and reminiscent of a damp forest on the nose and palate, with a balanced, dark-fruited, saline-heavy finish.

Drink 2022 - 2035

Matthew Luczy, Decanter.com (July 2020)

From six different lieux-dits.

Here, too, there is a whiff of herbal tea character sitting atop the earthier and more sauvage-influenced red berry fruit aromas. The sleek and delicious medium-bodied flavours are not quite as rich, though they are more precise and more mineral-driven on the impressively long and well-balanced finale. This is a fine Gevrey Villages that is worth thinking about.

Drink from 2028 onward

Allen Meadows, Burghound.com (January 2023)

Brand new to the Place de Bordeaux this year is a passion project by Ernie Loosen in Oregon's Willamette Valley that began in 2005. 'A great wine starts with the idea of a great wine' Ernie believes and his idea was to create a new world Pinot Noir (Burgundian vineyards were and are too expensive) but released when the wines are starting to be ready to drink - 10 years!

Smoked meat, fragrant strawberries and rose petals on the nose, delightfully beguiling and really draws you in on the first smell. Succulent and silky from the start, bright and piercing almost but then immediately softens bringing vanilla, clove, herbal raspberries, orange peel, touches of leather and meat into the mix. Still very much on the fruit but with accents of maturity that bring intrigue. 

Light and fresh, immediately so drinkable so feel free to pull the corks but this will also continue to improve with more age. Delicate yet layered with a certain push and style from the start and a real lingering of spice on the finish. Still a baby, only just starting to show what it's made of. 

Drink 2023 - 2034 

Georgina Hindle, Decanter.com (August 2023)