Byron Dooley’s top-shelf Pinot Noir stacks up alongside the best in his talented neighborhood of Carlton, Ore., and pulled from vineyards in four appellations — his estate Luminous Hills, Armstrong, Durant and Lia’s — with aplomb. Bright and fun aromas of cherry Pixy Stix candy, raspberry jam and strawberry-rhubarb compote pick up a pinch of baking spice from the new French oak (23%). The unfiltered drink is brimming with Rainier cherry and cassis, carrying remarkable balance and silky tannins that brush up against the finish of Craisins and tangerine peel. “Very Special Reserve” is quite a claim, but this lives up to the hype.
Rating: Outstanding!
Production: 126 cases
Alcohol: 13%
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