There is no doubt that the 2010 vintage was one of the more interesting in the last decade. The relatively cool summer and the extreme heat spike were hot topics of conversation. The combination of these climatic events led to a tremendous amount of fruit damage. What wasn’t talked about was the incredible quality potential of the unscathed fruit. It took amazing sacrifice, an unwavering commitment to quality, and great cooperation with our growers to make sure that all of the compromised fruit was dropped. In many cases this resulted in yields being off by as much as fifty to sixty percent. The silver lining is that the results speak for themselves; the 2010 Charlie Clay Pinot Noir is phenomenal. This vintage harkens to its Burgundy roots, emphasizing delicacy and subtlety vs. over extracted and overripe.

The 2010 Charlie Clay Pinot Noir starts with a complex nose of red fruit, minerals, and baking spice. On the palate, flavors of pomegranate and persimmon are complimented by sweet oak and cloves. The tannins are full yet silky, giving the mouth feel a wonderful elegance. Well balanced, this wine finishes with delicate acidity, embracing the subtle nuances that enchant us about Pinot Noir. While enjoyable now, this wine will drink best over the next 2-4 years, and age gracefully for many more after that.

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