92 Points, Smart Buy - Pinot Report
"...Medium ruby color; rich, deep, bright cherry aromas with earthy notes; deep, rich cherry flavors with earthy and savory spice notes; some oak; good structure and long finish."
The 2011 vintage was the coolest that I have experienced in California, with some vineyard sites struggling to ripen at all. We were fortunate that our fruit was ripe enough to pick just before the rain started on October 1. From the beginning HD has been dedicated to allowing the vineyard and vintage to dictate the style of the wine, and in this cool vintage, this meant accepting that the wine would be lighter bodied than in previous vintages. However, thanks to a stringent saignee at crush, the concentration of flavor is exceptional, meaning that the final wine, while lower in alcohol, is still very concentrated. The 2011 Pinot Noir is pale ruby in color. The nose shows an enticing blend of red fruit-cranberry, cherry, strawberry, red currant, and rhubarb-along with black tea, wild flowers, and slate. The palate shows berry and cherry, graphite, baking spice, and a fair amount of cedar from the new oak that will integrate and subside as the wine ages in bottle. Good but not abrasive acid, with long, spicy, grippy tannins carry the red fruit flavors through on the finish.
Winemaking:
The vineyard lots were fermented separately in 1-ton fermenters, with each lot being a blend of two clones. After the success of our native fermentation from Ferguson vineyard in 2010, I made the decision to switch to all native fermentation this year, and couldn't be happier with the results. The native yeasts are slower to begin fermentation, allowing for the long cold-soak I am looking for, and they are slower to finish, allowing for more time on the skins. Both lots were barreled down to 50% new French oak after 14 days on the skins, and completed malolactic fermentation in barrel. Once again the best blend seemed to be a combination of the two blocks, so all four barrels were blended in August, and put back to barrel before being bottled in December of 2012. Our final production was a nice, round 101 cases.
In 2011 we celebrated our third vintage sourcing from the Sangiacomo Family's Robert's Road vineyard in the Petaluma gap, where our block of Swan clone pinot produces tiny, intensely flavored berries, and the block of Dijon 777 adds weight and richness. We sourced the second half of our fruit from the Sangiacomo's as well, from their Kiser/Vella Ranch just on the other side of the mountains from Robert's Road. The fruit was 50% Pommard clone, lending intensity and spice, and 50% Dijon 115, which adds lighter, high-toned fruit.
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Vineyard: Robert’s Road, Petaluma Gap & Ferguson Vineyard in Carneros
Bottling Date: December 13, 2012
Release: March, 2013
Production: 101 cases
Alcohol: 13%
Drinking Window: Summer 2013 to 2018+
Gold Medal
Generously packed with black cherry, cola, cassis, and plum that all intermingle together in a creamy, velvety texture with great layering, finishing with delightful notes of oak and spice. Persistent, well-defined structure, wonderfully balanced.
95 Points
Lofty aromas of dark cherries, blackberries, and plum mingle with hints of baking spices and a touch of violet. The palate reveals luscious flavors of ripe berries, complemented by notes of black pepper and a subtle earthiness. With well-integrated tannins and a long lingering finish.
Exceptional!
Reddish-purple in color with aromas of blackberry, plum, pomegranate, herbs de Provence, and licorice. The palate is full, structured and balanced with blackberry, currant, black cherry, cassis, and licorice that carries through, with notes of black pepper, mocha and chocolate. Very long, spicy, with a fruit-driven finish. Great aging potential.
92 Points
Inviting aromas of ripe cherry, strawberry, and pomegranate. The palate unfolds with layered flavors of black cherry, raspberry cordial, vanilla bean and spice, where focused tannins envelop, leading to a rich red fruit finish with blue fruit undertones.
90 Points
Rich and voluptuous with ripe raspberry, cherry, and plum, layered with hints of lavender, fig compote, and exotic spice. Concentrated and complex, the palate is a balanced interplay cocoa, and a hint of espresso, creating both richness and intrigue. Vibrant acidity and silky tannins that contribute heft and length that coat the palate with luscious ripeness that keeps on giving.
Gold Medal
Light pink in color with aromas of watermelon, cranberry, orange rind, and fresh spring flowers that leap from the glass. The palate offers more peach, strawberry, and melon, with an intriguing note of rose and hibiscus. It's crisp with just the perfect hint of red fruit, and delicate whisper of strawberry that gives goosebumps.
94 Points
Deep garnet in color from the ripe 2018 vintage, with open aromas of lush fruit – plum, blackberry, and cherry, and notes of cedar, vanilla, and white pepper. Across the palate it's quite seamless and silky, rich and concentrated. The fruit flavors are bold and vibrant. Mouth-filling with smooth tannins, great texture and a long delicious finish.
96 Points
Aromas of blackberry, black cherry, huckleberry, floral violet and savory spice. The palate is full and layered, with robust, age-worthy tannins and gorgeous flavors of dark berries, mocha and chocolate-covered cherries mingling with hints of graphite, fig and fine leather. Smooth tannins, firm structure and silky texture coat the palate on route to a long, generous finish.
97 Points
Rich dark fruit flavors of blackberry and cherry with notes of baking spices, licorice, coffee, and chocolate that interlace seamlessly with complexity, creating a wine that is both structured and delightfully supple, achieving an ideal balance of tension and grace. Artfully composed of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon with 17% Cabernet Franc, resulting in harmonious depth and freshness.
94 Points
Rich and generous, with a deep purple hue. Aromas of crushed violets, ripe berries, blueberry pop-tarts, black currant, licorice, chocolate-coated espresso beans, allspice, and cedar box. Full-bodied with a plush, velvety texture.
94 Points
A classic expression of coastal influenced Chardonnay with aromas of honey, apple chutney, lime blossom, and gentle Indian spice box undertones. A big juicy entry on the palate, showing a silky texture with excellent tension and structure, ending with a complex, layered finish.
94 Points
Juice explodes right out of the glass with its dark purple in color and bursting aromas of black cherry jam, boysenberry, raspberry and wild cherry interlaced with hints of baking spice, espresso bean, and toasted nut. The palate is ripe and juicy with flavors of dark cherry, huckleberry and raspberry perfectly integrated with notes of spice, dark chocolate, and a kiss of toasty oak.
