Black cherry, turned soil, ripe strawberry. Boysenberry cluster, holly leaf, elderberry tea. Cinnamon and holiday spice, lavender and evergreen. Tightly wound & concentrated berries mesh with deep woods and just a hint of cola. Reticent and tense with structure suggesting it is not yet drinking anywhere near its peak. This 2016 Monument Tree Vineyard Pinot Noir by Mojave Wines is dense yet delicate Anderson Valley Pinot.

The Anderson Valley appellation is a cool climate wine growing region located in Western Mendocino County of California. It sits just north of Sonoma County and experiences a significant cooling influence from the Pacific Ocean that lies to its west. The valley follows the path of the Navarro River and contains primarily alluvial soils left behind from years of flooding and water movement. Here Pinot Noir is king, although Chardonnay, Riesling, and Gewurztraminer have a significant presence. This bottling, crafted by boutique producer Mojave Wines, proves that this region can grow Pinot that can swing with the best in the state. Coming from the warm 2016 vintage this wine shows ample black and red berry fruit with soft spiced nuances. It is certainly a bit bashful at the moment but began to reveal itself with significant air. This stuff will undoubtedly improve with another 3-5 years in the cellar, but boy is it already loads of fun.