2014 Antica Terra Pinot Noir Antikythera

Grapes for the 2014 Pinot Noir Antikythera come from the Antica Terra vineyard, planted in 1989. It's incredibly elegant and ethereal, reminiscent of Rayas with its elegantly degraded, amaro-tinged profile: warm cranberries, ripe raspberries and blackberries are accented by bitter citrus peel, amaro, tree bark, laurel leaves, dried roses, tobacco, ash and scrub. The medium-bodied palate is elegantly styled but intense, layered and with minutely grained tannins, finishing incredibly long, nuanced and with lip-smacking freshness. Wow!

Organic faming. Owner Maggie Harrison made wine as assistant winemaker at Sine Qua Non. Planted end of 1980s. She got ‘tricked’ into moving to Antica Terra as a favour to Manfred Krankl of SQN. She never planned to live in Oregon. She saw the site and decided to move. AVA predominantly an even balance of sedimentary and volcanic. Ultra-hard marine sediment pushed to the surface. Very shallow topsoil and very hard to plant. They are on the west side of hills. Maggie fed molasses to every vine weekly over 5 acres but realised it prob didn’t work so they cut through the rock between each row so the roots can go down. This vintage 12% whole bunch but very variable in each vintage. Ambient yeasts and bacteria for alcoholic ferment and malolactic conversion. Light to mid cherry red. A little more obvious oak spice and sweetness as well as fruit spice. Deep and richly fruited with a glorious balance between spicy sweet fruit depth and mouth-watering freshness. Chewy but sweet tannins, rounded and generous. There’s an intensity but it becomes more delicate and refined on the finish. Succulent and so long. You can taste the joy and spontaneity in this wine. Like the winemaker? Opens to a real lift and joy. (JH)

Deep red. Sexy, intensely perfumed cherry pie, boysenberry and floral pastille aromas are complemented by suggestions of cola, incense and Asian spices. Palate-staining red and blue fruit preserve, rose pastille and spicecake flavors convey a deft blend of power and nerviness thanks to a spine of juicy acidity. The floral quality comes back emphatically on a strikingly long, sappy finish shaped by smooth, fully absorbed tannins. (JR)