2017 Pastorale Vineyard Pinot Noir
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Tasting notes
Slightly deeper colored, the 2017 Pinot Noir Pastorale Vineyard saw 35% stems and slightly more new oak, spending 13 months in 52% new French. It offers more marine notes and salinity as well as notes of red currants, forest floor, tart cherries, and leafy, dried flowers. It's beautifully textured, has bright acidity, and is going to benefit from short-term cellaring.
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Average Score
James Suckling
Jeb Dunnuck
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The. 2017 Pinot Noir Pastorale Vineyard is a total knockout. Fresh, vibrant and light on its feet, the 2017 dazzles with its striking purity and breathtaking balance. Freshly cut flowers, mint, sweet red berry fruit, anise and blood orange all infuse this fabulous Pinot Noir. Imagine a wine with the aromatics of red Burgundy, the fruit intensity of California Pinot and the acid/tannin feel of Nebbiolo, and that's pretty much what the Pastorale is all about. It is also the finest Sonoma Coast Pinot I have tasted yet from Joseph Phelps. In a word: magnificent!
The 2017 Pinot Noir Pastorale Vineyard aged 13 months in 52% new French oak and was bottled a week before I tasted it. It has a medium ruby color, and although shy to begin, it gives way to broody aromas of perfumed earth and cardamom with a core of black cherries, black berries and red fruits with tons of floral accents. Light to medium-bodied, it has lots of latent ripe fruit in the mouth, with lovely earth and perfume accents, framed with a silky texture, great freshness and a long, layered finish. Give this time! 2,300 cases produced.
Aromas of dark berries, spices, iron, rust and dried fruit follow through to a medium to full body, bright acidity and a bright and intense finish. Racy and intense. Drink or hold.
About the producer
California winery Joseph Phelps is best known for its flagship Insignia cuvée, one of the first and finest proprietary red wines in the Napa Valley.