2012 The Haven Pinot Noir

With a dark, almost brooding presentation, the Haven Vineyard showcases less apparent fruit, a sense of rocky earthiness, notes of both conifer and forest floor, and natural spice throughout. There is nice palate tension here with a well-balanced structural frame, pleasing grip, and ultra-long finish. Will easily age ten years, likely longer. (ECB)

I am not sure if the 2012 Pinot Noir The Haven Vineyard Estate will ever fully emerge, as it remains compact, tense and very much closed in on itself. Still, there is a sense of verticality and overall structure that is impossible to miss. Today I am inclined to think all the 2012 needs is time, but readers will have to be patient. The Haven is likely to always remain a powerful, incisive Pinot.

Dark blue and black fruit, smoke, licorice, melted road tar and a host of dark flavors meld together in the 2012 Pinot Noir The Haven Vineyard Estate. Imposing and brooding, the Haven is built on a broad frame of pure structure, with superb intensity and massive tannins that need time to settle down. There is a lot going on in this highly promising Pinot, but readers need to give the 2012 at least a little bottle age.