With a ripe magenta hue, the 2022 Pinot Noir George Menini Vineyard is equally high in quality and was harvested quite early for this site in the Sebastopol Hills. It boasts a slightly deeper and layered profile in the glass, revealing brambly notes of wild, sweet herbs, fresh black cherries, and violets. It has a medium-bodied frame that retains great tension on the palate, with coiled tannins and a delicate spice through the long finish, with notes of incense. (AF)

The 2022 Pinot Noir George Menini was bottled in August 2023 and tasted in November. The nose opens slowly to reveal delicate rhubarb, strawberry, raspberry, black tea leaves, woodsmoke and juniper. The light-bodied palate is bursting with crunchy red fruit and spicy accents. It has a fine, chalky frame, fireworks of fresh acidity and a long finish with tremendous floral perfume.

The 2022 Pinot Noir George Menini is the most complete of the wines I tasted in this set of Spring releases from Paul Hobbs. Dark, ample and intensely savory, the 2022 impresses with its resonant personality. It's a big, vibrant wine with impeccable balance and tons of harmony. A whole range of floral and spiced aromatics lingers on the close. This is a standout. (AG)