The 2012 Pinot Noir Big Tree comes from 12- to 14-year-old vines picked October 1-2, fermented in three-ton open-top fermenters and matured in French oak barrels for 17 months with 42% new wood. Deeper in color than Sokol Blosser's fellow 2012s, the nose makes an immediate impression: delineated cranberry, red plum and white pepper scents that are initially tightly wound and then evolve attractive floral notes: iris and wilted violet petals. The palate is ripe and taut on the entry with well-judged acidity, crisp and quite assertive tannins, a little more black fruit than red with abundant forest floor notes on the finish. There is weight and substance to this Pinot Noir that is svelte in texture. It is perhaps less Burgundian than some of their other wines, not that this detracts in any way. Give this excellent wine another 12-18 months in bottle.

Earthy notes add interest to the ripe blackberry and black cherry fruit at the center. A broad wine, with an open texture, coming together harmoniously on the gentle finish. Drink now through 2020. 300 cases made.??–HS??Region: Oregon / Willamette Valley / Dundee Hills Select to Add