2012 Fess Parker Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills
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Tasting notes
A savoury, meaty palate with light smoke, red cherry, cranberry, and forest accents. and baking spice throughout. Drying oak tannins with balancing acidity and a mouth-watering finish. Lots of length. This is a crowd-pleasing style of California Pinot with good acidity. (ECB)
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
(46% new oak): Dark red. Pungent aromas of dried cherry, blackberry and musky herbs, with a subtle floral nuance building in the glass. Juicy and broad on the palate, offering smoky cherry-cola and licorice pastille flavors and a hint of black pepper. Dusty tannins shape the finish, which repeats the cherry note.
The 2012 Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills is a pretty, forward and classy effort that gives up plenty of strawberry and sweet red berry fruit, spice and hints of flowers to go with a medium-bodied, supple, beautifully textured feel on the palate. Aged 12 months in 46% new French oak, it won-t make old bones, but will dish out plenty of pleasure over the coming 3-4 years. This lineup, made by Blair Fox, is packed with outstanding wines. Most represent superb values. Tel. (800) 841-1104; www.fessparkerwines.com
Fess Parker's 2012 Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills is a supple, forward wine to drink now and over the next handful of years. Crushed flowers, sweet red berries and spices are all laced together in this effortless, gracious Pinot.