Donnachadh 2018 Pinot Noir Estate Santa Rita Hills 95 Points

WS 95 Points: “Smashed raspberry aromas are blasted with pleasantly funky touches of red miso, dried mushroom, toasted sage, and other brittle herbs on the nose of this bottling. It presents creamy on the palate at first before light tannins set up the fresh flavors of raspberry and pomegranate, decorated in rose hips and light charcuterie touches.”

Tasting Notes: The 2018 Pinot Noir Donnachadh Vineyard is a wine of real intrigue. Today, it is pretty tightly wound, but there are more than enough glimpses of its personality to see what will come in time. A rush of dark red/purplish berry fruit, mint, sage, leather, cedar, and blood orange emerge gradually from behind a wall of tannins that needs to soften before the wine hits its peak of maximum drinkability.

Winery Notes: “The 2018 Donnachadh Estate Pinot Noir is a wine of great complexity, concentration, and finesse. With the addition of a couple of Dijon clones to the mix, we give up the Heritage Vines designation for 2018 and moved to Estate. In terms of clones and blocks, we carried over the Swan, Calera, and Pommard clones that we used in 2017, but added some clones 115 and clone 667 from the hillside blocks. Compared to the ’17, the 2018 Estate Pinot Noir is more concentrated and displays darker fruit but retains balance and elegance. This was a very good year and the best Pinot we have made so far. Aromas of wild sage, strawberry and cherry, violets, forest floor, and pitch. In the mouth, a wave of tart red cherries, black raspberries, and plum with sarsaparilla and Earl Grey on the lengthy finish. 11 months in 20% new French oak barrels with about 15% whole cluster.”

Also, check out:  Donnachadh 2019 Chardonnay “Estate” Santa Rita Hills 95 Points