2012 McHenry Vineyard Pinot Noir Estate Vineyard

Community Tasting Notes (5) Avg Score: 92 points

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  8/2/2022 - IJC Likes this wine:

  Wonderful.
  I re-read my first review of this wine, and am shocked that at that time I only rated it +1. I rectified that a year later, raising the rating to +2. Now, it is a solid +3.
  
  Everything about this wine is California terroir specific, but the wine making is Burgundian, and at its best. The predominately darker red fruit is still vibrant, now multi-layered/ dimensional; iron in the soil very pronounced in the taste; and cinnamon spices bind it all together into a beautiful concentration of flavor.
  
  Rated +3 on a scale of -1 to +3.

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  11/22/2018 - dougie Likes this wine: 92 Points

  Just beautiful! Not your normal Cali fruit bomb and no cola. My new favorite producer. Great wine at a reasonable price.

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  4/23/2016 - IJC Likes this wine:

  Delicious. A wonderful bottle, with depth and persistence of flavors, balanced fruit and acidity. If this was not at its peak, it is close, and I would not recommend waiting another 8 years, as another taster has suggested.
  
  Rated 2 on a scale of -1 to 3.

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  1/12/2015 - Thad Likes this wine: 92 Points

  If you are looking for Kosta Brown or Seasmoke skip this wine. Lean but bright nose of cranberry, hint of spice and strawberry. the tannin is there but like salt and pepper on a good steak.
  In the mouth is on the lean side with cranberry and sour cherry. Tannins are there but not dominate. The balance of the acid with the fruit and tannins make this wine. I would never guess CA but the more I taste Santa Cruz Pinots, I am seeing a pattern, Try Neely also.

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  1/1/2015 - IJC Likes this wine:

  Another beautiful vintage from the McHenrys, this version of the Estate is all about red fruit, some high tone, with a nose and taste profile very much in the style of Chambolle. Beautiful clear glowing bright red in the glass, there is a sense of airiness about the nose. On the tongue, the acidity seems to energize the fruit; we drank half of the bottle the day after first opening it, and it was remarkably constant, perhaps even better? We served it blind to a sommelier friend, whose evaluation is instructive: first, Cote de Nuits, possibly Pinot or Gamay; then he detected iron, and thought New World, but not CA; finally Oregon, therefore Pinot. Give the man bonus points.
  I now have drunk 10 vintages by this maker, and have good reason to believe this will age gracefully, and provide much pleasure all along.
  Rated 1 on a scale of -1 to 3... with age, perhaps will evolve into a 2.

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