2016 Laguna Ridge Pinot Noir
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Tasting notes
The 2016 Pinot Noir Laguna Ridge (formerly Kistler Vineyard) is a racy, sensual wine. Lifted floral notes add shades of brightness to the red-toned fruit. Cedar, tobacco and iron develop later, bring further layers of nuance. I very much like the sense of energy here. This is typically the first fruit brought in at Kistler.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
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From sandy loam soils and all Calera clone, the 2016 Pinot Noir Laguna Ridge Vineyard is terrific but is going to reward short-term cellaring. Bing cherry, black raspberry, cassis, and smoked earth/charcoal notes all emerge from this medium-bodied, fresh, tight, backward 2016 that has beautiful concentration and depth. Hide bottles for 3-4 years at a minimum. There’s been a distinct style change at Kistler, with winemaker Jason Kesner purposely pulling back on the harvest dates and making a classic, age-worthy style of both Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. He’s done this without sacrificing depth, concentration, or richness, and these latest 2016s are truly brilliant wines.
A new addition to the Kistler portfolio since the 2015 vintage, this wine is only available in magnums. Medium to deep ruby-purple in color, the 2016 Pinot Noir Laguna Ridge Vineyard opens a little shy and broody, giving way to decadent black raspberry, wild blueberries and mulberries scents with wafts of forest floor, fungi and black pepper. Medium to full-bodied and firmly framed by ripe, velvety tannins and tons of freshness, it has concentrated black and blue berry layers and a long, earthy finish.
About the producer
Kistler’s Chardonnays are some of the world’s most sought-after. This cult Californian producer crafts small volumes of exceptional, rich and generous, yet mineral and precise wines. With almost the entire production sold directly to their mailing list, the wines are also incredibly hard to find.