The 2016 Pinot Noir Cuvée Natalie is a mix of Calera and Swan clones as well as cool, more iron oxide-driven soils. It offers more red fruits with sensational notes of strawberries, spice, and wet stone literally soaring from the glass. Perfectly balanced, with ultra-fine tannin and a seamless texture, drink this complex, layered, multi-dimensional Russian River Valley Pinot Noir anytime over the coming 10-15 years. There’s been a distinct style change at Kistler, with winemaker Jason Kesner purposely pulling back on the harvest dates and making a classic, age-worthy style of both Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. He’s done this without sacrificing depth, concentration, or richness, and these latest 2016s are truly brilliant wines.

Medium ruby-purple in color, the 2016 Pinot Noir Cuvee Natalie Silver Belt possesses quite an earthy nose of truffles, underbrush, tilled soil and mossy bark over a core of Black Forest cake, warm red and black plums and raspberry compote. Full-bodied and laden with black berry and earth layers, it has a velvety backbone and very long mineral-tinged finish.