2015 Chacra Pinot Noir Cincuenta y Cinco
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Tasting notes
(12.8% alcohol): Moderately saturated medium red. Pungent aromas of cranberry, raspberry and peppery herbs are lifted by cinnamon, nutmeg and sandalwood and complicated by a slightly rustic leathery nuance. Juicy, spicy, dry and penetrating, with a strong peppery whole-cluster quality to its classically dry but fine-grained raspberry and leather flavors. No easy sweetness here; in fact, this is rather uncompromisingly dry. Strong saline minerality contributes to the impression of energy and definition. Still quite youthfully tight on the lingering, spicy back end. Not a hugely ripe Pinot Noir but has all the elements to evolve gracefully for at least the next five years. I marked it down a bit only for its leathery element.
Critic scores
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
James Suckling
More reviews and scores
The 2015 Cincuenta y Cinco, pure Pinot Noir from a vineyard planted in 1955 (cincuenta y cinco is Spanish for 55), is an elegant, direct red with tension obtained by fermenting the grapes from those stony, sandy and clay-rich soils in concrete vats with half of full clusters and indigenous yeasts. Forty percent of the wine matured in second use French oak barriques for eight months, while the rest of the volume was kept in concrete until blending and bottling. I tasted it twice because proprietor Piero Incisa della Roccheta was not happy with how the first bottle showed, even though I found it quite good. But he was right, the second one was even better, with more energy. They consider 2015 one of their finest vintages. This has a nose of ripe cherries, some violets and a sense of energy and freshness, with no trace of oak. The palate is extremely elegant, with ultra fine tannins and gobsmacking balance, all about subtleness without feeling diluted. This has power and elegance. For now and the next 10+ years. A superb showing for Cincuenta y Cinco. 17,500 bottles were filled in early January 2016.
Exciting aromas of limestone, salt, and dark fruits. Raspberry and strawberry undertones. Full body, bright fruit, ultra-fine tannins. Tight now. Better in 2018. A little disappointing this year for this single vineyard wine.