critic reviews
Like its Horseshoe Hillside counterpart, the 2019 Pinot Noir Alpine Hillside Vineyard is spectacular throughout and redefines what is possible with this grape variety in California. The nose amplifies the intensity of the Alpine bottlings' aromatic complexity, spotlighting minty, herbal and citrus-rind aromas, offering an almost cooling quality to the dark fruits and dried spices layered beneath. The palate is supple, enveloping and supremely elegant, maintaining impressive levity and energy despite its expansive frame. The finish is simultaneously impactful yet restrained, with its substantial tannin structure receding before returning, swelling and gaining continuous power and length. This is a magnificent wine that should be present in any serious collection of Pinot Noir.
The 2019 Pinot Noir Alpine Hillside is completely shut down today. Beams of tannin totally wrap around the fruit today. Readers should plan on being very patient here. This is an especially austere wine. Although this is a barrel selection, many of the barrels for Alpine Hillside emerge from parcels in the middle of the hill, where the terrain is the steepest.