Goldeneye Winery Anderson Valley Pinot Noir 2012

The exceptional 2012 vintage yielded a rich, robust Anderson Valley Pinot Noir with a delightful blend of sweet and savory elements. On the palate, beautifully delineated layers of freshly tilled earth, leather, lavender and pennyroyal are balanced by flavors of sweet Bing cherry, Japanese plum and black currant notes. The mouth feel is round and plump, gliding to a long, satisfying finish marked by lingering notes of chocolaty French oak.

After a cold, dry winter, we did extensive pruning to delay budbreak until the optimal time. Early spring rains and warm weather produced ideal conditions from bloom through fruit set. Though we set a larger-than-normal crop, the clusters were dense and compact with abundant small berries, which is perfect for high-quality wine. Warm summer days, cool nights and clockwork fog allowed for slow, even ripening and the retention of acidity. We harvested block-by-block over an almost languid two-month period. Like the Anderson Valley itself, the resulting wines are pure and complex, balancing a natural richness with a rustic elegance.