Pinot Noir McDougall Ranch, Kutch 2016

12.0% alc. Vineyard is situated 3.5 miles from the Pacific Ocean at 935-1,030 feet elevation. Soils are Graywacke and sandstone. Clones 114 and 115 on 44-53 rootstock planted in 1998. Located 1.7 miles north of Hirsch Vineyards. Moderately dark garnet color in the glass. Other worldly aromas of crushed black cherry, pine, spice and burnt tobacco. Amazing attack and expansive mouth filling presence of black cherry fruit. A fruit grenade combined with an ephemeral demeanor. This beauty offers exceptional length, vibrant underlying acidity and uncommon finishing intensity. A complete wine that has everything you could ask for in Pinot Noir. Still great when tasted four days after opening the bottle. Ridiculously good.Added in Feb 2021:"I recently opened a bottle of 2016 Kutch McDougall Ranch Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir and went ga-ga. Loads of spicy black cherry, very suave mouthfeel, and dreamy harmony. Exceptionally good when tasted the following day from a previously opened bottle. Could be the best Kutch Pinot Noir I have ever experienced!"Added in August 2021:" I have drank multiple bottles of this wine since I was so overcome with Pinot Love when I first reviewed the wine after release, I bought several bottles. Every bottle has been exceptional. Briefly, the wine checks all the boxes: exotic aromas, delicious spiced black cherry flavor, silky, greased lightning mouthfeel, and dreamy harmony. The wine is so well balanced it will easily last another ten years. A heartthrob Pinot Noir. Sadly, I am down to my last bottle. Score: 98"

12% alcohol. There’s some taut, firm, grippy structure here. It’s quite burly and dense with some sweet black fruits but also more savoury notes of tar and herbs. Grippy with some spicy focus, and a bit of sweetness on the finish. Has some plum and damson, with a bitter twist. On day two, this has opened out really nicely with sweet, supple fruit. It’s structured but really fresh and supple. A serious effort showing real elegance, and on the third day this is really singing.