White Rose Estate "White Rose Vineyard" Pinot noir 09

Review:

The 2009 Pinot Noir White Rose Vineyard is a selection from the four oldest blocks in the vineyard planted in 1980 and was made with 60% whole clusters. The wine was aged for 15 months in 8% new French oak. Medium ruby red in color, it sports an enticing nose of exotic spices, incense, cedar, rose petal, cherry, and raspberry. In the glass it opens to reveal exceptional elegance, excellent concentration, and impeccable balance. It is likely to provide enjoyment for another 8-10 years.

White Rose Estate's proprietor, Greg Sanders, loves whole cluster Pinot Noir and his 2008s were brilliant successes. He informed me during our sit-down that beginning in 2011 all of the wines produced from the estate White Rose Vineyard will be made with 100% whole clusters. Regarding the 2009s, he says, "There are wines here that I like better than the 2008s" and I have to agree with him. - Jay Miller

The White Rose Vineyard Pinot Noir is the flagship wine from our estate. The objective of our winemaking here is to present the terroir of our vineyard in a pure, focused style, enabling an expression of elegance and clarity that few single vineyards can fully capture. - the winery

Previous Vintage Tasting Notes

2008 Vintage Tasting Notes

Wine Advocate 93 points!

Wine Advocate: The 2008 Pinot Noir White Rose Vineyard proffers a multi-dimensional nose of sandalwood, Asian spices, incense, black cherry, and black raspberry that leaps from the glass. Rich, layered, and already complex, this spicy offering has superb volume and concentration, impeccable balance, and a lengthy, fruit-filled finish. It merits 3-4 years of additional bottle age and will have a drinking window extending from 2013 to 2023. - Jay Miller

Tanzer 92 points!

Tanzer: Vivid red. Expressive, highly perfumed bouquet of cherry pit, black raspberry, cola and vanilla, with a sexy spicecake quality gaining power with air. Juicy, focused and gently sweet, with impressive depth and clarity to its red fruit flavors. Finishes with very good cling and spicy persistence. - Josh Raynolds