2016 Bearwallow Vineyard Pinot Noir
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Tasting notes
Here too the cool and restrained nose is wonderfully perfumed with its array of spice and floral elements adding excellent breadth to the essence of red currant, pomegranate and sandalwood scents. The gorgeously textured, intense and detailed medium weight plus flavors possess evident muscle, punch and power where the latter really comes up on the firm and tightly wound finish that once again delivers sneaky good length. This is not as refined as either of the two Alpine entries but it's bigger, indeed to the point of being robust. Impressive but note well that this is a wine to buy and forget it in some dark corner of your cellar!
Critic scores
Average Score
Allen Meadows, Burghound
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
Ample spice, herbes de Provence, Bing cherry, and pomegranate notes emerge from the 2016 Pinot Noir Bearwallow Vineyard. It’s medium-bodied, fresh, and nicely focused, with the more savory, mineral style of the Anderson Valley front and center. It has good structure yet is also accessible. It should drink nicely for a decade.
The 2016 Pinot Noir Bearwallow Vineyard is a soft, seductive wine. Silky tannins frame the floral, red and purplish berry fruit nicely. This is one of the more nuanced and delicate wines in the range. In fact, the Bearwallow comes across as a bit hushed today relative to how it showed from barrel. There is plenty to admire in the 2016. Best of all, the Bearwallow should drink well with minimal cellaring.
The most approachable of Rhys' vineyard-designate Pinot Noirs, the 2016 Pinot Noir Bearwallow Vineyard offers up expressive aromas of black plums, wild berries, peonies and rich soil. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it's supple and layered, with a juicy core of crunchy fruit, succulent acids and lovely declination. Already integrated and giving, drink it over the next decade or more.