2016 Chateau Boswell Pinot Noir Absolutely Eloise Bentrock
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If you can believe it, the 2016 Pinot Noir Rita's Crown Vineyard is even better. Another Sta. Rita Hills release, it saw 10% stems and 16 months in 65% new French oak, with the balance in used barrels. This fabulous effort boasts a medium ruby color as well rocking notes of black cherries, mulling spices, raspberries, and dried flowers. Absolutely seamless on the palate, with terrific intensity and length, it just glides across the palate. Perfectly balanced, it’s a thrilling bottle of Pinot Noir from this singular region. Don’t miss it!
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Jeb Dunnuck
Jeb Dunnuck
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Aged for 16 months in 70% new French oak, the medium to deep ruby-purple colored 2016 Pinot Noir Radian Vineyard has a lifted nose of preserved cherries, black raspberries and pomegranate with touches of rhubarb, raspberry leaves and dried herbs plus a waft of mossy bark. The palate is medium to full-bodied and very structured, with a grainy frame and lively backbone supporting the generous fruit, finishing with a compelling herbal lift. 772 cases produced.
The only red I was able to taste from Chateau Boswell, the 2016 Pinot Noir Absolutely Eloise Sun Chase Vineyard is 100% Clone 777 Pinot Noir that was mostly destemmed (roughly 7% stems) and brought up in 70% new French oak. This site lies at 1400 feet above sea level on Sonoma Mountain, and consists of rocky clay and marine soils. This ripe, opulent, sexy beauty of a Pinot Noir boasts terrific notes of black cherries, black raspberries, spice, forest floor, and earth. With medium to full-bodied richness, a rounded, sexy texture, and no hard edges, drink this pleasure-bent effort over the coming 7-8 years. These brilliant wines from Chateau Boswell are made by renowned winemaker/consultant Philippe Melka, with assistants from Allison Nunnikhoven. I found all f the wines to have classic, balanced, age-worthy profiles, and they’re some of the gems in this report.