WINE ADVOCATE, AUGUST 31 2018 – ERIN BROOKS

2017 Pinot Noir Rosé – 90
Made from Pinot Noir vines planted in 1977, the 2017 Pinot Noir Rosé is pale to medium salmon-pink in color with a nose of ripe red berries, strawberry and peach with touches of wet rock and spice. Light-bodied with lovely berries and white peach character in the mouth, it has a good line of crushed rock minerality and refreshing acidity, finishing long with a pleasant touch of phenolic texture. 250 cases produced.

2017 Pinot Gris- 90
From vines planted in the 1990s, the 2017 Pinot Gris features aromas of Red Delicious apples, baked pear, nutty touches and faint white spring blossoms. Light to medium-bodied, it’s very crisp and refreshing in the mouth with wonderful apple flesh notes, finishing with just a touch of texture and lovely floral hints. 500 cases produced.

2016 Chardonnay Casteel- 95
Tasted from magnum, the 2016 Chardonnay Casteel opens with intense mineral notions on the nose, aromas of pulverized stone and petrichor over lemon meringue, Red Delicious apples, hazelnuts, honey toast and clotted cream. Medium-bodied with a light creamy texture, it has beautiful white flowers in the mouth with honey nut and apple pie nuances and a streak of crushed rock running with the very bright acidity, finishing very, very long and honeyed. 225 cases produced.

2016 Chardonnay Estate- 91
The 2016 Chardonnay Estate is scented of fresh cut hay, hazelnuts and honey toast with white flowers, lemon confit and cream nuances. Medium-bodied with a lovely creamy texture, it fills the mouth with warm apple pie, cinnamon stick and crème fraîche flavors with accents of honey, citrus blossoms and toast, with juicy, mouthwatering acidity and a touch of pleasant texture on the long finish. 650 cases produced.

2016 Chardonnay Justice Vineyard- 91
From vines planted in 1999, the 2016 Chardonnay Justice Vineyard is scented of fresh cut hay, Golden Delicious apples and warm earth with notes of toast and honeycomb. Medium-bodied, it features lovely spiced red apple flavors in the mouth, with touches of tangy yogurt and nutty accents, a wonderful line of mouthwatering acidity, finishing long with crushed rock notes. 200 cases produced.

2016 Chardonnay The High Wire- 96
This wine is made from Chardonnay vines planted in 1977. The 2016 Chardonnay The High Wire opens with honey toast, hazelnut, lemon confit and tangy yogurt with nuances of freshly cut hay, white blossoms and red apple skin. Medium-bodied and creamy textured, it has a firm streak of crushed rock in the mouth over honeysuckle, honeycomb, toast and spiced apple pie plus mouthwatering acidity and a lovely texture to carry the very long, savory, honeyed finish. 100 cases produced.

2016 Pinot Noir AEolian- 91

This wine is made using young vines, planted from 1994-2002. Pale to medium ruby-purple, the 2016 Pinot Noir AEolian has a nose of warm black cherries and black berries with notes of earth and sliced prosciutto plus touches of violets and peppercorn. Medium-bodied, it fills the mouth with warm, ripe black fruit notions, with a lovely frame of fine-grained tannins, juicy, mouthwatering acidity and perfumed earth carrying the very long finish. 400 cases produced.

2016 Pinot Noir Estate- 91
The 2016 Pinot Noir Estate is pale to medium ruby-purple with beautiful scents of warm blackberries and black cherries with notes of bramble berry and blueberry compote plus meaty touches of charcuterie and pink peppercorn. Medium-bodied, it has a good core of black fruits in the mouth, with a frame of grainy tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing long with blue fruit and perfumed soil notes. 2,400 cases produced.

2016 Pinot Noir Casteel- 94
Pale to medium ruby-purple, the nose of the 2016 Pinot Noir Casteel bursts from the glass with violet and lilac aromas over blueberry pie, cardamom, potpourri, bitter peel, tree bark and tilled loamy earth. Medium-bodied, the palate is packed full of blackberry and bramble berry preserves notes, with a wonderful frame of fine-grained tannins and loads of freshness, finishing very, very long with layer after layer of earth and savory notions.

2016 Pinot Noir Estate Flat Block- 95
From own-rooted vines planted in 1979, the pale to medium ruby-purple colored 2016 Pinot Noir Estate Flat Block opens with bramble berry jam, smoked meats and black peppercorn aromas over notes of baked red cherries, cinnamon stick and floral perfume. Medium-bodied, it fills the mouth with warm, ripe black and red cherries and berries notions, swelling with lovely sweet perfume and spice, structured with fine, grainy tannins and gobs of freshness, finishing very long with tons of sweet fruit. 100 cases produced.

2016 Pinot Noir Justice Vineyard- 93
From vines planted in 1999, the pale to medium ruby-purple colored 2016 Pinot Noir Justice Vineyard has a lovely nose of lilacs and violets over a core of warm black cherries and berries, blueberry pie and bramble berry preserves notions with touches of sliced prosciutto, black pepper and crushed rock. Medium-bodied, it fills the mouth with perfumed warm earth and black fruits flavors, with beautiful grainy tannins and great freshness lifting the long finish. 450 cases produced.

2016 Pinot Noir Southeast Block- 95
From own-rooted vines planted in 1979, the 2016 Pinot Noir Southeast Block is pale to medium ruby-purple with a nose of spiced blueberry and black cherry pie, cloves, cardamom, smoked meat, dried leaves and floral perfume—there’s lots of spice here! Medium-bodied, it packs in the sweet blue and black fruits in the mouth, laced with beautiful spice and savory notions, mouthwatering acidity and very ripe, fine-grained tannins, finishing very long and very spicy. 125 cases produced.

2016 Pinot Noir West Block- 93
From own-rooted vines planted in 1977, the 2016 Pinot Noir West Block is pale to medium ruby-purple in color with warm cinnamon stick and clove notes over ripe black berries, cherries and currant aromas with a perfumed core of pepper, potpourri, underbrush and dried leaves. Medium-bodied, it fills the mouth with sweet black fruits and oodles of spicy/savory notions—sliced prosciutto, potpourri, tree bark, bitter peel—with fine-grained tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing very long and earthy. 450 cases produced.