2009 J. Christopher Pinot Noir Abbey Ridge Vineyard

The 2009 Pinot Noir Abbey Ridge Vineyard comes from a 40 year old parcel in the Dundee Hills AVA. Fragrant spices, floral elements, and racy red fruit aromas lead to a concentrated, elegant, rather suave offering that displays exceptional depth and concentration for the vintage. It, too, will deliver pleasure through 2019. J. Christopher Wines (the winery of guitar aficionado Jay Somers) has not been reviewed in these pages since the 2001 vintage. Given the quality of this collection of wines, he must have been in hibernation or taking lessons from the elusive John Thomas. Better late than never! The following wines generally are aged for 16-20 months in 25% new French oak. Tel. (503) 231-5094; www.jchristopherwines.com