The 2009 Pinot Noir Eastside Road Neighbors is a precise, beautifully delineated wine bursting with energy and persistence. Dark red cherries, plums, spices and licorice flow gracefully from this mid-weight, pointed wine. The bright acidity makes me think the wine will age quite nicely for a number of years. Some of the vineyards in this blend are Calegari, Black Rose and Lone Oak. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2019.
I tasted a dizzying array of Pinot Noirs from Williams Selyem and winemaker Bob Cabral. Yields were down in 2009 because of bunch-stem necrosis, a condition that can occur because of weather/humidity extremes or mineral imbalances. Otherwise, it was a pretty regular vintage with an even set and a harvest that took place beginning in early September.
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