2010 Hartford Court Pinot Noir Far Coast Vineyard

The 2010 Pinot Noir Far Coast Vineyard stands out for its deep, resonant personality. Firm tannins keep the fruit from being truly expressive, but there is no shortage of depth and nuance in the glass. The 2010 Far Coast is one of the few wines in this range that needs another year or two in bottle for the tannins to start melting away. Sweet floral and spice notes add lift on the finish. The appropriately named Far Coast Pinot emerges from a site north of Fort Ross on the upper reaches of the Sonoma Coast. This site sits at an elevation of 900-1,200 feet. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2020. Proprietor Don Hartford and winemaker Jeff Stewart have done a fabulous job with these new releases. It is rare for a winery to excel with so many different wines across three varieties and a bevy of sites. Each of these wines is unique and distinctive, not to mention that virtually all of the wines are immensely pleasing as well. This year, I was especially taken with the 2011 Zinfandels, wines that all have tremendous energy and vibrancy. At times, the Hartford Zinfandels can be quite Pinot-like in style. Tel. (800) 588-0234

Vivid ruby-red. Fresh cherry, raspberry, potpourri and allspice on the highly fragrant nose. Sweet, floral and intense, with bright acidity and minerality contributing energy to this taut wine's sweet red berry and bitter cherry character. Firmly built and sharply focused pinot with suave floral pastille notes lingering on the finish.