A big, bombastic wine, the 2010 Pinot Noir Maclean’s Block is one of the few wines in this range that never seems to come together. There is plenty of richness in the glass, but at the same time, the wine feels heavy and overly extracted. Black cherries, plums, mocha, chocolate, cola and spices are some of the many notes that emerge over time. Today, the MacLean’s Block comes across as not totally put together. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2018.
Proprietor Don Hartford and winemaker Jeff Stewart have done a fabulous job with these new releases. It is rare for a winery to excel with so many different wines across three varieties and a bevy of sites. Each of these wines is unique and distinctive, not to mention that virtually all of the wines are immensely pleasing as well. This year, I was especially taken with the 2011 Zinfandels, wines that all have tremendous energy and vibrancy. At times, the Hartford Zinfandels can be quite Pinot-like in style.
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