Oregon State University grad Robert Brittan returned home after an illustrious career at Stags’ Leap Winery in Napa Valley, and the 2011 vintage allowed him to produce 10 vineyard-designated Pinot Noirs for Bostonian natives Bill Sweat and Donna Morris. This estate project is easily the largest in their program, and Brittan used the final week of October to bring in the lots from clones of Pommard, Coury, Dijon 114, 115, 667 and 777. It captures much of the essence of Dundee Hills here, starting with aromas of Hawaiian Fruit Punch, red plum and cherry juice, while the touch of French oak (17% new barrels) adds lovely clove notes to the background with lavender. The drink fills the mouth with plum, Montmorency cherry and red currant, which are wrapped in a structure of ample acidity and green tea tannins that bodes well for cellaring.
Rating: Excellent
Production: 751 cases
Alcohol: 12.9%
Leave a Reply