2009 Pinot Noir

Lamorinda (Contra Costa County)

Our 2009 Lamorinda Pinot may reflect the best representation of locally-grown Pinot Noir we've everreleased. The fruit for this wine comes from four great Lamorinda vineyards (Magalhaes, Nazeri,Captain, and for the first time, Haas). Each component was fermented separately in small, open-topbins with a significant percentage of whole clusters excluded from the destemming process (to promotespice and structure in the wine). After a lengthy, cool fermentation process, the different lots werepressed separately, and selected components were combined into 1 and 2-year old French Oak barrelswhere they aged for about 9 months.

In the glass, the fluid flaunts a beautiful garnet-red color with good clarity (especially for an unfiltered,unfined wine). It appears deeper and darker than a typical Burgundian Pinot, promising opulence, yetstriving to avoid the jammy, overripe character of many Californian Pinots these days.

Be sure to put your nose deep in the glass and luxuriate in the huge aromatic nose of this wine, burstingwith maraschino cherry with accents of cola nut and slight earthiness. In past releases, almost all Lamorinda Pinots exhibited a hint of orange zest, which is absent in this edition, replaced instead byopulent perfumed scents of plum, red fruits, violets, and spice.

As you take a sip, you're treated to a velvety smooth mouthfeel, almost like liquid silk, gently caressingthe palate. This wine is loaded with concentrated fruit, yet its racy acidity refreshes the palate,balancing intensity with succulence and avoiding a heavy, viscous sensation. The finish is smoothand supple, with sleek tannins that are not overpowering but persistent, leaving a lasting impression ofcrème brulee, a slight hint of anise, and warm toasty oak.

This wine would make an excellent pairing for duck breast pan-roasted with fresh thyme and rosemary,drizzled with a cranberry glaze on a bed of sautéed sliced portobellow mushrooms. It should age nicelyfor at least 5-7 years given its sumptuous fruit, acidity and tannic structure, but I'd enjoy at least a fewbottles while it's young to appreciate the vibrancy of its youth.