2018 Le Moulin Rouge Pinot Noir
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Tasting notes
Slightly reductive at first, the 2018 Château Le Moulin opens up to boast a dense purple color as well as powerful notes of black raspberries, kirsch liqueur, toasted spices, and minty herbs. Medium to full-bodied, up-front, and loaded with fruit, it has sweet yet present tannins, a round, pleasure-bent vibe, yet the structure to evolve for 10-12 years or more.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
This label comes from the Pisoni vineyard in Santa Lucia Highlands. Medium ruby-purple in color, the 2018 Pinot Noir Le Moulin Rouge prances out of the glass with vibrant notes of wild strawberries, fresh raspberries and cranberry sauce plus suggestions of lavender, wild sage and tilled soil. The medium to full-bodied palate is elegantly styled with bold freshness and fine-grained tannins supporting the red berry flavors, finishing long with an herbal lift. 504 cases were made.
The 2018 Pinot Noir Le Moulin Rouge Pisoni Vineyard is fabulous. Bright and floral, the 2018 shows a level of finesse that is unusual for this Santa Lucia Highlands site. Red/purplish berry fruit, lavender, chocolate cake, rose petal, mint and spice are all finely delineated in this very pretty, nuanced Pinot Noir. Harvest took place on September 18. The fruit was entirely destemmed, and the wine spent 16 months in oak, 50% new. This is one of the finest vintages of Moulin Rouge I have tasted. What a shame the estate Pinots were lost to smoke taint.
About the producer
Founded in 1983 by Sir Peter Michael CBE and his wife Margaret, Peter Michael Winery produces some of California’s finest wines.