Pastorale Vineyard Pinot Noir

This is classic JP Quarter Moon.

The 18 has nice evolution while holding its vineyard characters. It shows medium dark fruits; black cherries, blackberries, strawberries, nicely layered spice & baking spices, mid red flowers, excellent acidity and a finish that is elegant, well balanced-knitted and lasts 90 seconds.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year!

The provenance was impeccable... A stunning bottle and the perfect representation of Pinot Noir from California.. @Antonio Galloni @Paul T- Huntington Beach @Shay A @leon egozi @Lyle Fass @Doug Davidson @Dick Schinkel @Carl Fischer @jesus g

Two Pinot’s with turkey & stuffing. This one was selected for its round evolution, nice array of dark & light fruits as well for its elegance. Handled Hedy’s dark Turkey meat and excellent stuffing.

The Phelps Pinot’s are good young but, get so much better with 7-10 years plus in bottle.

With each vintage, their Pinot’s get better & better.

On the nose, liqueured cherries, black cherries, strawberries, dry cranberries, touch of baked rhubarb, dark rich soils, limestone minerals, red licorice/cola, steep fruit tea. Dry brush, vanilla, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, Provence herbs, warm toast, fresh red & dark florals with violets.

The body is medium, rich & lush. Liqueured cherries, black cherries, strawberries, dry cranberries, pomegranate, touch of baked rhubarb, blueberries, dark rich soils, limestone minerals, red licorice/cola, steep fruit tea. Dry brush, vanilla, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, Provence herbs, warm toast, fresh red & dark florals with violets. Even though this wine was stored well, it wasn’t stored in my best storage. It might be two years ahead of schedule. However, the structure, tension, length and balance are about two years from its peak. The acidity is round and like a gentle rain shower. The long finish is well balanced, elegant, lush, rich and lasts minutes.

Photos of, the Estate vines as viewed from their patio, the old oak vats inside their tasting room that were once used for winemaking, event tasting room, and their tasting patio.

The nose reveals bright red floral fruits with blue fruit hues. Strawberries, bright dark cherries & cherries, dry cranberries, pomegranate and blueberries. Vanilla, cinnamon stick, dark rich soil, limestone minerals with blue and red florals.

The body is medium. Strawberries, bright dark cherries & cherries, dry cranberries, pomegranate, touch of plum, and blueberries. Vanilla, cinnamon stick, dark rich soil, limestone minerals with blue and red florals. The acidity is like a waterfall. The long finish still needs to flush out but is delicious and shows very good promise for a better score in 3-5 years.

Photos of; the Joseph Phelps Sonoma facility now just used for production and no longer open for visitors, the lounge area of Joseph Phelps Napa visitor center, Pastorale Pinot grapes and their Pastorale Pinot Vineyard.

There’s something about letting California Wines rest 3-5 years that makes them extraordinary better.

Earthy, cherry and beautifully layered

A single vineyard expression aged for 13 months in 50% new and 50% two-year-old French oak barrels. Aromas of red and dark berry fruits with earthy spice notes. On the palate, raspberry, cherry and plum flavors, rich and complex with nice mouthfeel, integrated tea spice and oak. Fine smooth tannins with good balance of acidity has plenty of room to develop. Long finish with subtle earthy character, an outstanding wine.

Totally unctuous

Biased review