2009 Brittan Pinot Noir Basalt Block

"I think of vintage as the personality of a wine," says winemaker Robert Brittan. "2009 was a warm vintage. You can almost smell the heat." The 2009 Pinot Noir Basalt Block is more tertiary than its 2007 counterpart, although still holding a medium ruby color. Dried red berries and blackberries at the core are accented by saline, mushroom powder, grapefruit pith and old leather aromas. The medium-bodied palate is savory but has retained its red fruits, firmly framed and juicy. If you have any of this in the cellar, it's about time to drink it up.