2020 Peter Max Pinot Noir

The 2020 Peter Max felt quite austere on the nose, more so than the 2019 that I had tasted 3–4 days previously. This demands coaxing, eventually revealing brambly red fruit, briar, damp moss and then later, hints of morello cherries. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, taut and crisp, delivering very pure tart red fruit. There is an attractive "bite" toward the finish, which is structured like a Morey-Saint-Denis, the lingering salinity urging you back. Excellent, but give it a couple of years for the aromatics to fully open.