2009 Brewer-Clifton Pinot Noir Melville Vineyard
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Tasting notes
The 2009 (14.9% alcohol and aged completely in neutral wood) is tighter-knit and more narrowly constructed than usual, although there is plenty of concentration, medium to full body and abundant red and black fruit characteristics. However, the tannin, structure and high acids result in a firm, broodingly backward style of Pinot Noir. It will benefit from a few more years of cellaring, and should last for a decade.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Bright red. Intensely perfumed bouquet offers red fruit and floral scents, along with notes of star anise, cinnamon and smoky minerals. Bright and energetic in the mouth, with excellent clarity and power to its strawberry and raspberry preserve flavors. Tangy acidity adds lift and bite to the very long, sweet, spice-accented finish. I really like this wine's graceful, balanced character.
The 2009 Pinot Noir Melville reveals a powerful fleshy personality close in style to the Cargasacchi. It shows marvelous density and a brooding inner darkness that is hard to fully capture with words. The wine turns a bit more radiant on the expressive finish. This parcel at Melville is planted with the 114 and 115 clones