Bearwallow Vineyard, Pinot Noir, 2020
Touch of rhubarb, cranberry, dark and brooding but also really rather sexy – this purrs with ripe dark briary fruit, a gorgeous release of flavour across the palate, deep fluid, textured and long. At the darker end of the spectrum but very bright with it; this caresses the palate with a sense of luxurious fruit, then notes of fine earth and gentle spice. A classic Bearwallow tannic flourish on the finish, the Bearwallow sting, reminds you that this is very much a wine of place. A long finish. Wonderful, one of the best I’ve tasted.
critic reviews
Beginning on a restrained note, the 2020 Pinot Noir Bearwallow Vineyard progressively exudes aromas of black cherry, wild blueberry and violets. The palate is lush and seamless, with deft concentration at its core. The finish is long and harmonious, with deliciously juicy, red-fruited flavors and precise, delicate yet grainy tannins. Already drinking beautifully, this provides an opportunity to enjoy a Rhys vineyard-designate Pinot Noir long before the Santa Crus Mountains lineup has unlocked its full potential.
The 2020 Pinot Noir Bearwallow Vineyard is a very pretty wine. Bright and effusive, with lovely red berry fruit, the 2020 is delicious right out of the gate. Sweet spice and floral accents give this mid-weight Pinot terrific lift. The 2020 is not super-complex, but it is quite tasted and expressive today. Drink it over the next handful of years.