2021 Falstaff Pinot Noir

Full bottle 1,341 g. 22 barrels produced from vines planted in 1999 at 505 ft, eight miles from the Pacific on Goldridge soils. Kutch's coolest site. Picked from 23 September to 2 October. 50% whole bunch. Transparent crimson. Still very restrained nose with the merest hint of tamarind. Really textured and spreads all across the palate with grip and yet there is masses of tightly focused fruit with even a little bit of blackcurrant – rare for a Pinot Noir. Very pure indeed – great precision! And, unlike the general Sonoma Coast blend, this does not seem to be dominated by whole-bunch character. A real pleasure already. (JR)