A smooth and pleasing example of Pinot Noir, we review the 2022 Brassfield Estate Pinot Noir.
100% Pinot Noir from the High Valley AVA in Lake County, California. The wine was aged in 40% new French oak.
Sample submitted for review. This wine has a SRP of $32 but has been spotted for under $20.
From the winery:
Pinot Noir benefits from a unique terroir found here at Brassfield Estate. These grapes are sourced from four vineyard blocks nestled within a westward-facing box canyon. Strategically positioned beneath a saddle in the ridge, the descent of cool coastal air from the west makes this the coolest vineyard site in High Valley. This vineyard thrives on soil formed from ancient lakeshore and alluvial deposits. The cultivars are a blend of Dijon clones arranged northeast to southwest, ensuring optimal sun exposure, critical to grape development. All these factors work synergistically to produce a Pinot Noir with more intense varietal character, notable color extraction, and excellent acid retention.
WINEMAKING: Our Pinot Noir was harvested at the peak of ripeness and brought to the winery in the early morning to ensure the utmost fruit integrity. During fermentation, vineyard blocks were kept in separate stainless-steel tanks to enhance varietal complexity. Then this wine was barreled down to neutral French, American and Hungarian oak to undergo malolactic fermentation in our caves. Once fermentation was finished, the wine was blended and aged on 40% new French oak. This wine is unfined but was filtered before bottling for brilliant clarity and maximum quality.
TASTING NOTES: Earthy notes of leaf and turned soil provide warmth and depth to a wine initially defined by a nose of bright tart cherries. The tension between these components wrap nicely around lush rounded tannins, and make for a delicious and complex experience that finishes long.
Handcrafted, Family Owned, Estate Grown, Produced and Bottled by Brassfield Estate Winery
13.25% Alcohol
The 2022 Brassfield Estate Pinot Noir opens with pleasing aromas of black cherry and nice touches of oaky spice with some tomato plant and earthy notes underneath.
The wine features similar flavors to the nose. Smooth and structured, this is a really pleasing example of Pinot Noir.
It ends dry, long and a bit grippy. This is really solid although it wasn’t quite as good on day 2 so you may want to take steps to preserve it. We put this at the high end of our 8 Taste Rating (90 points).
Looking for more of The Best Pinot Noir? Check out our multi-page listing!
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