2010 Graham Family Vineyard Pinot Noir - Loring Wine Company

Wilted dark cherry, decaying violet, bruised strawberry. Dehydrated blueberry, peat moss, warm plum cordial. Wet tree bark and damp leaves, soy sauce and brown mushroom. Cranberry liqueur, fermenting blackberry, and dried fig form a highly tertiary core of well-developed fruit that is matched in intensity by forest floor, hoisin sauce, and pronounced earthy funk. Damp hay, decomposing flowers, and oxidized red apple continue the parade of aged and noticeably deteriorated tones that were once clearly quite ripe, forward, and substantial. Cinnamon, vanilla, and clove are still apparent along with a distinct impression of cola syrup, although they have largely faded in power and relevance. Full bodied and noticeably high in alcohol finishing with mild mostly-resolved tannin and medium minus acidity. Slightly out of balance and probably just passed its peak, but still extremely interesting to experience. This 2010 Graham Family Vineyard Pinot Noir by Loring Wine Company is a big, bold, fully-developed red from the Russian River Valley.

The ripest and most modern California reds are often best consumed young, but many of them can turn into something completely different with a bit of age. This bottling, crafted by Loring Wine Company using Pinot Noir sourced from the Graham Family Vineyard in Sonoma's RRV, is a great example of what to expect from a nearly 10 year old 14.7% ABV California Pinot. It is still barely holding onto to it's big, lush, and chewy fruit, but the fruit has largely shifted towards expressing dried and almost port-like characteristics instead of youthful ripe exuberance. Damp forest notes and heavily earthy funk have now begun to garner control and will likely eventually completely overtake the bouquet. While it's best years are behind it this is fun wine to experience with many complex layers waiting to be unfurled.