Alysian Wines
2009 Floodgate Vineyard Origins Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir •Floodgate Origins
California: Sonoma County: Russian River Valley
Mission Briefing
Roaring Nineties
We are wild about today’s Alysian Wines Pinot Noir from the fabled prince of Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, winemaster Gary Farrell.
For the last 30 years, Gary Farrell has been crafting Pinot Noir from the finest blocks of the Russian River Valley’s most important vineyard sites. Today’s spectacular Alysian Wines 2009 Floodgate Vineyard Origins Pinot Noir is one of the finest Russian River Pinots we have ever tasted. This wine came from blocks 3 and 4 of the Floodgate vineyard; these vines were planted in 1971 (some of the oldest pinot on the continent).
This wine is elegant, delicious, and as you swirl the wine in your glass it evolves and unfolds in ways that surprise and delight the senses; the more time you spend with the wine, the more the aromas wash over you and flavors dance on the palate. The effect is like smooth jazz, or bottled poetry. No wonder this wine has received more 90+ point scores than we can even count! See below for a partial list of the awards that this wine has garnered.
Can you tell that we are practically mezmerized by this wonderful wine? Fall under its spell - before our other Operatives buy it all up. Quantities are limited.
Tasting Profile
| Look: | Rich translucent crimson, with the light viscosity characteristic of a Russian River Pinot Noir. |
|---|---|
| Smell: | Fruity aromas of slightly under-ripe cherry and plum meld with black pine, mushroom, and subtle eucalyptus. |
| Taste: | Very complex, layered and bursting with flavor. Mouthwatering black cherry, blackberry, black plum and dried dark red rose petals take the lead. These sit easily atop springtime forest floor, sweet tobacco leaf, slate mineral and a hint of black pepper. |
| Finish: | Ultra-long with well-integrated tannins that seem to lock flavors onto the palate, especially at the far corners. |
| Pairing: | We enjoyed this incredible Pinot with an equally incredible three-course meal: a Morel Mushroom Bisque followed by duck breast with rhubarb-cherry chutney and, finally, a simple cheese plate. |