2010 The Hilt Pinot Noir Old Guard
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Tasting notes
(made entirely from old vines Sanford & Benedict fruit; 25% new oak): Vivid ruby-red. Spicier and higher in pitch than The Vanguard bottling, displaying a bouquet of smoky red fruits, star anise and fresh flowers. Sappy red and dark berry flavors show a distinctly savory quality, with notes of black olive and licorice adding depth and an exotic touch. A suave floral pastille quality adds sweetness to the finish, which features smooth tannins and a hint of bitter cherry. All Mount Eden clone fruit was used here, from vines that were planted in 1972.
Critic scores
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Josh Raynolds
More reviews and scores
The 2010 Pinot Noir Old Guard is gorgeous. Layers of dark red fruit come together beautifully as the wine takes shape in the glass. A firm, structured frame provides the backdrop for an expressive core of dark cherries, mint, flowers and licorice. A creamy, gracious finish leaves a lasting impression. In 2010, the Old Guard shines. Curiously, the 2010 was made entirely with Sanford & Benedict fruit.
The 2010 Pinot Noir Old Guard is gorgeous. Layers of dark red fruit come together beautifully as the wine takes shape in the glass. A firm, structured frame provides the backdrop for an expressive core of dark cherries, mint, flowers and licorice. A creamy, gracious finish leaves a lasting impression. In 2010, the Old Guard shines. The 2010 was made entirely with Sanford & Benedict fruit, as the vintage proved too difficult for the Bien Nacido fruit. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2016. The Hilt is a new project headed by Stan Kroenke, Matt Dees and Armand de Maigret, the same team behind Jonata. This strong set of new releases suggests the future is very bright for The Hilt. I also tasted the 2011s, but they are very, very young and still need considerable time to come together. There will be a new Chardonnay in 2011 called Vanguard, which will round out the current lineup to two Chardonnays and two Pinots. Tel. (805) 564-8581
About the producer
The Hilt is the Santa Rita Hills project owned by sports and property mogul billionaire Stan Kroenke, who also owns Screaming Eagle in Napa Valley and the Jonata estate in the California’s Ballard Canyon AVA.