Pinot Noir

wines

Like many of Te Mata’s 2020 reds, this young pup needs a little time to open if drinking now. Once it does, there’re elegant aromas of cherry and blueberry fruit, violets and roses, ground black pepper, cloves and a slight meatiness in a well-tucked bed of mocha oak. Tangy red fruit on the silky palate is tightly wound by fine tannins and lifted by a crunch of acidity. A unique Pinot that bears the Te Mata stamp of place, polish, freshness and structure. Drink now with rare duck or better yet or until around 2030. Wine Enthusiast | 92 WE

(Pinot Noir “Anderson Valley”- Bravium Wines (Anderson Valley)) Derek Rohlffs has crafted a very, very pretty Anderson Valley bottling of pinot noir in 2020, with this svelte, red fruity middleweight coming in at 12.6 percent alcohol this year. The nose jumps from the glass in a very refined constellation of strawberries, cherries, woodsmoke, a fine base of soil tones, a lovely touch of Anderson Valley fresh herb tones, peonies and just a whisper of cedar. The wine is bright, tangy and medium-full on the palate, with lovely intensity of flavor, excellent focus and grip, moderate tannins and a long, balanced and beautifully complex finish that closes with excellent backend lift. This is outstanding. The wine is certainly quite approachable out of the blocks, but more complexity will emerge with further bottle age. (Drink between 2021-2045)John Gilman | 92+ JGBay leaf and forest-floor aromas meet delicious red and black cherries in this medium-to-full-bodied wine, for an intriguing blend of savory and fruity qualities. It balances appetizing acidity and mild tannins with complex flavors.Wine Enthusiast | 92 WEThis fresh, direct style is finely textured and dominated by red currant and dried raspberry flavors, with loamy hints on the cedary finish. Drink now through 2024. 1,045 cases made.Wine Spectator | 90 WSFloral aromas of roses and violets with red cherries and strawberries as well. Juicy and flavorful palate with medium body and integrated tannins. Drink now.James Suckling | 90 JS

The 2020 Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills Cuvée is a terrific introduction to the range. Crushed red berry fruit, mint, spice, rose petal and a touch of whole cluster savoriness are all beautifully delineated. This is such a gorgeous and expressive Pinot.Vinous Media | 93 VM

Has a marvellous richness and a pronounced floral character. The wine is not lacking in weight, and there is a lovely sweet character that the French call sucrosité - not jammy but ripe, supple and accessible. This village Volnay comes from two parcels that total not quite a half-hectare, split between Les Grands Champs and Les Pluchots (the latter has just been replanted in 2018). To this is added the young vines from the premiers crus until they reach eight years of age.Decanter Magazine | 92 DECFuller crimson purple, with an explosive ripe raspberry nose. I would not want this to be any riper, but am very happy with it as it is. There is a certain tension on the palate, possibly a touch of blood orange in the fruit mix, enough acidity, fine-grained tannins and good length. The vineyard is on a good slope here which may help the freshness. Tasted Oct 2021.Jasper Morris | 91-94 JMThe 2020 Volnay Village is showing very well, offering up aromas of cherries, raspberries, rose petals and loamy soil. Medium-bodied, bright and perfumed, it’s elegant and charming, with a pretty core of fruit, powdery tannins and a perfumed, saline finish.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 89-91 RPA more complex and wonderfully fresh nose is comprised by notes of violet, red and black cherry, anise and a whiff of earth. I very much like the sophisticated texture of the medium-bodied flavors that are classic Volnay of lace and grace, all wrapped in a youthfully austere, firm and beautifully long finale. This is an excellent villages and it too is worth checking out.Burghound | 89-92 BHThe 2020 Volnay Village comes from two parcels in Les Grand Champs and Les Pluchots. It has a fragrant and floral bouquet, rose petals and incense infusing the red berry fruit. Fine delineation, nicely focused and fresh. The palate is medium-bodied with tart red fruit, gentle grip, lightly spiced with a classically-styled finish. Pretty.Vinous Media | 88-90 VM

This is a cooler terroir that gives a slightly more reserved wine, yet there is no lack of elegant blue and black fruit or floral notes here. The texture is supple and silky; less weight than the Champans but perhaps more elegant. The Taillepieds is from a 1.07ha parcel at the top of the steep slope and the same level as Clos des Ducs. The grapes are destemmed and fermented on native yeast in open-top oak fermenters before ageing in cask (10-15% new).Decanter Magazine | 93 DECThe 2020 Volnay 1er Cru Fremiet offers up notes of sweet berries, cherries, rose petals, raw cocoa and warm spices. Medium to full-bodied, bright and velvety, it’s deep and concentrated, with powdery tannins and lively acids. As usual, this is a touch more structured than Les Angles, though it’s far from forbidding.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 92-94 RPThe 2020 Volnay Fremiet 1er Cru has a perfumed bouquet with redcurrant, raspberry sorbet and sous-bois aromas that offers a subtle balsam element with time. The palate is well balanced, fresh and vibrant with crunchy red berry fruit. Good acidity here, classic in style with a linear finish, a hint of pepperiness on the aftertaste. Give this 4-5 years in bottle before broaching because it has an endearing feisty character.Vinous Media | 92-94 VMA ripe yet cool and airy nose combines notes of red and dark raspberry, plum liqueur, sandalwood and a whiff of violet. There is again a beguiling texture to the sappy, even velvety, medium-bodied flavors that coat the palate with dry extract that also buffers the moderately firm tannic spine supporting the impressively long finish. There is a bit more power compared to the Clos des Angles though this too is really quite refined. Lovely.Burghound | 91-94 BHFuller crimson purple, with an explosive ripe raspberry nose. I would not want this to be any riper, but am very happy with it as it is. There is a certain tension on the palate, possibly a touch of blood orange in the fruit mix, enough acidity, fine-grained tannins and good length. The vineyard is on a good slope here which may help the freshness. Tasted Oct 2021.Jasper Morris | 91-94 JM