2022 Estate Radiolaria Pinot Noir Mendocino Ridge 96 Pts
"From blocks mostly on the estate's eastern side, it shows a tremendous earth-driven character with turned soils and forest floor. The Radiolaria plankton fossils were throughout the soils, once on the bottom of the Pacific; winemaker Jason Drew feels this lighter soil type creates more effusive aromatics that hone in on red fruits and savoury herbs and 10% whole cluster. Pomegranate pulp, red currants and candied raspberries meld with rich earth flavours of mushroom and wet pine needles. A tang of early-season blackberries carries deep into the finish while an oceanic salinity lifts it. This wine has an elegance and finesse to the filigreed mineality and savoury freshness. As the vines mature, these are at 14 years, the wines have become more expressive."
Clive Pursehouse North American Editor Decanter Magazine