2008 Jenkins Ranch Pinot Noir

Medium to dark ruby, with notes of incense, herbs, earth and red fruits (pomegranate and cherry) the 2008 Pinot Noir Jenkin's Ranch is straightforward, somewhat one-dimensional and medium-bodied, with berry fruit, herbs, and spice. It is good, but again, the shortcomings of this vintage are apparent. Drink it over the next 2-3 years. One of the most reliable negociant firms in all of California is that of Patz and Hall, as the following tasting notes demonstrate. They are spot-on across the board with their generic as well as single-vineyard wines. There is no doubt they have been accessing some of the best single-vineyard sites in California for nearly as long as I have been writing about wine. Patz and Hall now produce eight separate Pinot Noirs, which would make them feel at home working in the Cote d-Or, where most vignerons have at least a half dozen different offerings. Tel. (877) 265-6700