2009 Pinot Noir Santa Maria Valley

The 2009 Pinot Noir Le Bon Climat Vineyard is a gorgeous wine endowed with considerable richness in its dark red fruit. It shows striking depth, a supple mid-palate and a pure, long finish. A brief burst of heat towards the end of the growing season gives the wine a measure of fleshiness without marking it excessively. This is a beautifully balanced, harmonious Pinot with a bright future. The Bon Climat is made from organically farmed fruit. A similarly non-interventionalist approach follows in the cellar. The wine was aged in French oak (one-third new) and spent 15 months on its lees and was bottled unfiltered. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2019. These are the first wines I have tasted from Gavin Chanin, who cut his teeth at Au Bon Climat and Qupe. I was super impressed, to say the least. Long aging on the lees, minimal racking and an otherwise light handed approach are the norm here. These striking, pure wines are all highly recommended. It will be fascinating to see where Chanin goes from here, but the future looks immensely promising. Tel. (818) 631-2007; www.chaninwine.com