The 2008 Pinot Noir is 15 years old, and the wine remains a vibrant ruby color in the glass. On the nose, the aromas are saturated with red berries and exotic spice, with hints of bone broth, pomegranate molasses and white flowers. There's no more than 30% whole bunch, and it sits well within the wine. It's a gentle, soft, fragrant wine with perfume and detail in every step. So nice. It's the perfect example of a drinking window that has been smashed by the wine; the previous drinking window ascribes 2016 as the end date—and this has a decade or more left. Gentle tannins are wrapped around a core of pure, clear, sweet fruit. Pleasure! The wine's pH is 3.3, and there were no punch-downs during ferment, with daily pump-overs. 12.5% alcohol, sealed under natural cork.

Small crop and Neil always loved it for its potential. Pretty and juicy and even a little loose by now. Not the flavours of burgundy but nice balance and nice tight structure as well as undertow of forest-floor flavours. Not that fruity but very interesting and nicely balanced. LOVELY WINE. (JR)