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B-21 Top Recommendation
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From an outstanding vintage for fans and collectors of California Pinot Noir, these top rated 2021 selections offer a comprehensive range of styles matching an array of individual tastes, all value priced for stocking up on a favorite and perfect for mixing a case.
Regardless of which microclimate it hails from, Pinot Noir in the Sonoma Coast AVA enjoyed consistently moderate growing conditions in 2021, with warm weather in the early part of the year kicking off the growing season early. The summer was marked by cool temperatures and dry conditions without prolonged heat spikes that yielded even ripening with extended hangtime and steady yields. Calling the 2021 Sonoma Coast Pinots “fabulous,” Antonio Galloni of Vinous describes them as “potent, brooding wines with dark fruit profiles and tons of textural depth” their deep structure and superb balance promising longevity. Situated about 350 miles south of Sonoma’s Russian River Valley, the Central Coast also enjoyed a cooler growing season in 2021, described by Jeb Dunnuck as an “undeniably great vintage” that “will be loved by those who prioritize finesse and elegance.” Experiencing a long even growing season without any heat spikes, dry conditions in the Central Coast required a judicious use of irrigation in 2021 that produced healthy fruit but smaller yields, the top talent in the region producing rich and age worthy Pinot. Jeb Dunnuck describes the 2021 Central Coast Pinots as “fresh, vibrant, yet concentrated wines with the up-front purity and charm to drink well today, yet the structure and depth to age gracefully,” while Antonio Galloni of Vinous declared the favorable conditions produced “a wide range of exceptional, world-class wines.”
Summing up the 2021 vintage for California Pinot, the Wine Spectator’s Aaron Romano declares “2021 has all the makings of a banner year for California, especially for Pinot Noir. There were no extreme heatwaves and yields were slightly lower than average, which has translated into reds with expressive fruit character and natural vibrancy,” these impressive 2021 Cali Pinot Noir selections showcasing a range of styles offered at value pricing to enjoy now and over the next decades. |
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The 2021 Pinot Noir The Estate is a blend of all the clones. Pale to medium ruby-purple in color, it prances out of the glass with fragrant notes of Bing cherries, fresh raspberries, and wild blueberries plus hints of red roses, cinnamon toast, and black tea. The medium to full-bodied palate has electric tension and impressive purity with very fine-grained tannins and a long vibrant finish.
96 points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Independent (Jul 2023)
The 2021 Pinot Noir The Estate (previously labeled "Pinot Noir Wayfarer Vineyard") has inviting aromas of cranberry sauce, mushroom, allspice and bitters. The palate's concentrated, nuanced fruit is structured by focused acidity and generous, powdery tannins, and it finishes with a flourish of spicy accents. It's drinking beautifully now and will develop savory complexity in bottle over the next decade.
95 points, Erin Brooks, Wine Advocate (Jun 2023)
A deep ruby, the 2021 Pinot Noir The Estate is ripe and layered with an attractive perfume of cardamom, pure wild raspberry, and fresh sage. Medium-bodied, it expands with good length and concentration, its pure fruit is seamless throughout, and it has a fresh spine of acidity. Offering a lovely balance of fruit and freshness, with ripe tannins and a rocky texture, it should be drunk 2024-2034.
94 points, Jeb Dunnuck (Jul 2023)
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