2011 DePonte Cellars Pinot Noir Estate

The 2011 Pinot Noir Estate comes from 10- to 12-year-old vines on the estate and is raised in 50% new French oak and the remainder two- to five-year-old for between 12 and 16 months. There are around eight barrels this year. It has a conservative bouquet at first, with tertiary red berry fruit that is a little rustic in style. The palate is medium-bodied with supple ripe red berry fruit, fine acidity and a slight chewiness on the finish. This is quite a stylish Pinot Noir from a challenging vintage, natural and unpretentious.