2011 JCB Pinot Noir No 3 60% RRV, 40% Côte de Nuits

I suppose this is the creative end of the Jean-Charles Boisset empire. I’ve never been a big fan of the international blends, such as the 2011 Pinot Noir JCB No 3, which is 56% Pinot Noir from the Russian River and 44% Pinot Noir from the Côtes de Nuits. It’s an earthy, chocolaty, spicy, rather exuberant wine that I suppose one could see the bond between the two regions. The wine is certainly well-made, above-average in quality and spent 17 months in about 30% new French oak, so the fruit is still lively and present. Drink it over the next several years.