2016 Pinot Noir Accolades
93 Points - Wine Spectator
Finely textured and concentrated flavors of raspberry, plum and red currant are vibrant and well-focused in this svelte and direct style. Mineral and spice notes linger on the fresh, crunchy finish, with peppery hints. Drink now through 2023.
93 Points - Wine Advocate, Robert Parker
Pale to medium ruby, the 2016 Pinot Noir Fort Ross Vineyard has a wonderful bitters-scented nose of potpourri, tangerine peel and tree bark over a core of crunchy cranberry, red cherry and red berries. Light to medium-bodied with a silky texture, it has concentrated red fruits with tons of amaro accents, fine, grainy tannins and a long, energetic finish.
92 Points - James Suckling
Raspberries, red cherries, fresh rose petals and dried herbs. Medium to full body, firm and steely tannins and a medium-long, medium chewy finish. Drink in 2020.
91+ Points - Jeb Dennuck
Similarly colored, the 2016 Pinot Noir FRV offers cooler notes of black cherries, currants, and salty marine like notes as well as a medium-bodied, nicely balanced, concentrated style on the palate. This is another terrific Pinot Noir from winemaker Jeff Pisoni that has both richness and elegance. It will be better with another year in the bottle and have a decade of overall longevity. The 2016 spent 10 months in 40% new French oak and will be released later in 2019. June 2019.
★★★★ EXCELLENT - Restaurant Wine, Ronn Wiegand MW/MS
The Pinot Noir is very fragrant, full bodied, supple in texture, and finely flavored with notes of plum, cherry, rose petal, cedar, and toasty oak. It has good intensity, crisp acidity, and a long, mildy tannic finish. Can develop further; excellent.