2009 Patz & Hall Pinot Noir Burnside Vineyard

(from a northeast-facing site in the cool Petaluma Gap): Good ruby-red. Aromas of black cherry, black tea, menthol and smoked meat lifted by a floral element. Juicy, tight and cool in character, with youthfully imploded flavors of black raspberry and licorice. At once dense, powerful and lively. Finishes classically dry, spicy and firmly tannic, with plenty of acidity for aging. This bottling is typically a slow developer, and this 2009 will also require patience.