2010 Anthill Farms Pinot Noir Comptche Ridge Vineyard

Autumn leaves, dried herbs, tobacco cedar and sweet spices all flow from the glass in the 2010 Pinot Noir Comptche Ridge. In this vintage, the Comptche Ridge comes across as delicate and at times even a bit fragile. Ideally it is best enjoyed sooner rather than later. The cold growing season was especially challenging in this northern part of Sonoma. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2022. This is another set of gorgeous wines from Anthill Farms. Proprietor Anthony Filiberti comments that 2010 was a challenging growing season. A cold, wet spring resulted in an irregular flowering, which lowered yields and left the plants with grapes and clusters in varying stages of development. The only way to achieve full ripeness was to sacrifice the fruit that lagged in maturity, which reduced yields even further. These sacrifices paid off, however, and as a result, Anthill Farms produced a fabulous set of wines. Filiberti typically uses 40-50% stems and prefers low amounts of new oak. These are some of the most transparent, graceful Pinots being made in California today. Pricing remains quite fair within the context of top-echelon California Pinot. Tel. (707) 385-9396

Bright red. Perfumed, floral red and dark berry aromas are brightened by tangy minerality and a hint of Asian spices. Taut, youthfully firm raspberry and bitter cherry flavors show excellent clarity and vivacity, with zero excess fat. Finishes with silky tannins and impressive spicy persistence. This finely balanced, precise wine is delicious now but really deserves a few years to unwind.