2013 Peter Michael "Clos du Ciel" Fort Ross-Seaview Pinot Noir

The 2013 Pinot Noir Clos de Ciel is beautiful. Offering sweet bluish/black fruits, forest floor, a touch of graphite, violets and slight underbrush, it's magnificent and probably close in quality to their incredible 2012 … All of Peter Michael's estate Pinot Noirs come from their relatively new plantings on that high ridge line above the fog line in the Fort Ross-Seaview AVA. Everything is 100% destemmed, goes through 5 to 7+-day cold pre-maceration, and is aged in about 50% new French oak. They are bottled without fining or filtration, and are all vinified with indigenous or selected yeasts. The clonal material is from a famous vineyard in Vosne-Romanée. (We can all assume it's probably from one or two of the great grand crus of the domaine, Romanée-Conti, but they're not confirming.) The wines spend their time in François or Gautier cooperage and the early vintages are among the greatest New World Pinot Noirs I have ever tasted. (RP)

Firm and rich, with a dense, chewy, tannic core of blackberry, wild berry, black tea, dried herb and black licorice. Tightens on the finish. (JL)