Radio-Coteau Pinot Noir Dierke

點(diǎn)擊次數(shù)：2684

With even higher potential, the 2009 Pinot Noir Dierke comes from the Mt. Eden clone as well as Dijon clone 828. Still on its lees, this is a limited production (100 cases) cuvee with lots of forest floor, black raspberry and blue fruit notes. Once past the terrific aromatics, it is a medium to full-bodied, beautifully fruited wine with impressive purity and texture as well as a Vosne-Romanee-like personality. Enjoy it over the next 7-8 years. Proprietor Eric Sussman seems to go from strength to strength at this small boutique winery. One of the buzz words in the wine world is -natural- winemaking, which has no real definition and is often shamelessly used to promote a certain style of wine. Yet Radio-Coteau is a great example of 'natural winemaking' native indigenous fermentations, incredibly low usage of SO2 and biodynamically farmed vineyards. Then add the fact that the wines are bottled without fining or filtration. Of course, human beings/civilization have to intervene in the winemaking process, so until grapes are produced that can detach themselves from the vine and hop, skip and jump to a fermenter and make themselves, we will never have 100% 'natural' wines. Eric Sussman's three 2008 Syrahs have also turned out fabulously well, with all of them living up to the higher end of my barrel tasting range of scores of last year. The 2009 Syrahs are not as intense as their 2008 counterparts. However, given how Eric Sussman's wines often put on weight in the barrel, my current ratings may look conservative a year from now.Tel. (707) 823-2578; Fax (707) 823-2112

The 2009 Pinot Noir Dierke is a bit tamed in this vintage. There is plenty of fruit in the glass, but not much else. Today, the 2009 comes across as pretty but simple. It is easy to see the transformation that has occurred at this site over the last few years as the young vines get older and more site specificity emerges, but this was the second wine off the site. As such, it is pretty, but nothing like the wines that have emerged since then. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2019. This lineup from Radio-Coteau and proprietor Eric Sussman was among the most thrilling I tasted this year. Radio-Coteau practices sustainable farming and hands-off winemaking, which includes native fermentations, minimal rackings and bottling without fining or filtration. What ultimately counts, though, is what is in the bottle, and more often than not, these are compelling wines that deserve serious attention. Among many things, Sussman told me Syrah did better in 2011 than in 2010. Yields were down dramatically, but the fruit that was left was exceptional. Tel. (707) 823-2578