2020 San Andreas Fault Estate Pinot Noir
Estimated value
Buying options
Tasting notes
At this stage, the 2020 Pinot Noir San Andreas Fault seems to have escaped impact from the season's devastating heat and wildfires. It has slowly opening aromas of cranberry jelly, rhubarb, mossy bark and mushrooms plus touches of cinnamon and potpourri. The medium-bodied palate features concentrated, savory flavors. It has a frame of chalky tannins and seamless acidity with a long, spicy finish.
Critic scores
James Suckling
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
The 2020 Pinot Noir San Andreas Fault pours a rich ruby and offers aromas of black cherry, cardamom, forest earth, and violets. It’s full-bodied, with more black cherry and blackberry on the palate, as well as fine tannins, tangy acidity, and notes of fresh berries and turned earth. It’s clean and balanced and has a fairly long finish. Drink 2024-2036.
The 2020 Pinot Noir San Andreas Fault comes across as quite soft in this vintage, but that’s not a bad thing. Crushed rocks, red-toned fruit, rose petal, iron, mint and dried herbs all run through this vibrant, chiseled, aromatic Pinot Noir. Like all the Pinots here, the 2020 is on the lighter side, but all the elements are well balanced. I would give the nervy tannins 6-12 months to soften.
This is very mineral, with raspberry, bergamot and some sandalwood. Aromatic. Medium to full body, firm and creamy tannins and a long, flavorful finish. Orange peel, too. Chalky. Drinkable on release in 2023, but better in 2024.