2009 Dehlinger Pinot Noir High Plains Vineyard
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Tasting notes
Bright ruby-red. Expressive aromas of raspberry, cherry, potpourri and sexy oak spices. Concentrated and lush, with spicy red fruit flavors gaining depth and sweetness with air. Open-knit and leading with its fruit today. Finishes bright and sappy, with fine-grained tannins and enticing red berry preserve flavors.
Critic scores
Average Score
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2009 Pinot Noir High Plains comes across as a bit more structured and powerful than the Altamont. It shows lovely focus and energy in its dark red cherries, cola, flowers and sweet spices, all supported by vibrant layers of minerality that give the wine its shape and focus. This is Dehlinger's first Pinot vineyard to ripen.
The 2009 Pinot Noir High Plains comes across as a bit more structured and powerful than the Altamont. It shows lovely focus and energy in its dark red cherries, cola, flowers and sweet spices, all supported by vibrant layers of minerality that give the wine its shape and focus. This is Dehlinger’s first Pinot vineyard to ripen. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2024. I tasted a large number of wines with Tom and Eva Dehlinger, including several older wines, all of which have held up beautifully. These remain some of the most fairly priced wines in California. Tom Dehlinger describes 2009 as a very cool Pinot vintage. Dehlinger reports that yields in 2009 are down approximately 40% because of cold weather before and during bloom. The Pinot ripened evenly, and the harvest started on September 4 as opposed to late August, which is more typical in these sites, once known for their similarly early-maturing apples. In 2009 Dehlinger bottled his High Plains Pinot separately rather than blending it into the Altamont, which is frequently the case, as it is again in 2010. Rains during the harvest were trickier for the later-ripening Syrah, which wasn’t picked until October 20. Elegance and freshness are the hallmarks of the 2009 Syrahs, which stand in stark contrast to the riper, more concentrated 2008s. Vintage 2010 is another story completely. The Pinot harvest was even later than in 2009, and didn’t get started until September 22. In 2009 Dehlinger has several new wines, including a Zinfandel. Dehlinger made Zinfandel from 1975 to 1983. When the opportunity arose to purchase high-quality Zinfandel and Petit Sirah, Dehlinger decided it was time to take the plunge once again. Tel. (707) 823-2378