2014 Rutherford Pinot Noir

Between 70 and 100% whole cluster depending on the vintage, the wine is foot-trodden before going into a traditional basket press. Fermented with natural yeasts, the wine spends 10 months in 70% new François Frères barrels, is then racked off its lees and then undergoes a further eight months’ ageing in barrel. It is aged for one year in bottle prior to release. Pale to mid ruby. Pale rim. Old-fashioned California Pinot nose with more than a hint of the old Joseph Swan examples. Great for nostalgia. I wonder where the vineyard is? Totally seductive and ready. Why haven’t Californians snapped this up? Mushrooms and violets. And it tastes a good 10 years older than it is. Long and flattering but not sickly. (JR)

Between 70-100% whole cluster depending on the vintage, the wine is trodden by foot before going into a traditional basket press. With natural yeasts, the wine spends 10 months in 70% new François Frères barrels, is then racked off its lees and then undergoes a further eight months’ ageing in barrel, then one year in bottle prior to release. 770 cases produced. I’ve seen this label before. Where? Transparent ruby. This so strongly reminds me of the old Joseph Swann Pinot Noirs! Extremely distinctive. Not at all burgundian and proud of it. Rich and deeply flavoured but not simply sweet. This has real grunt. I wonder where the vines grow? I should imagine this is extremely sensitive to temperature and needs to be served coolish. Surely an interesting clone or two? Spice and then a dry finish. Long. (JR)