2010 Thomas Fogarty Rapley Trail Estate Vineyard Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir  $55.

Bright red.  Sexy bouquet of red berries, blood orange, potpourri and Asian spices.  Silky red fruit flavors show good depth and palate-staining intensity, with juicy acidity adding lift and back-end cut. Gains richness and sweetness with air, finishing with very good clarity and spicy persistence.  This wine was made with 100% whole clusters.

No block bottlings in 2010 so all the best fruit from the “B” and “M” block are included. Aged 10 months in 40% new French oak and bottled unfiltered.  Moderate reddishpurple color in the glass. Great nose! Vibrant aromas of dark cherries, dark red berries and spice. Delicious core of black cherry, black currant, cola and anise flavors with an earthy and mineral-driven iron bent. Admirable balance and easy drinkability with considerable length on the fruit-packed finish

The cool 2010 vintage has yielded a wine with fresh berry fruit and complex spice and forest notes. The nose is fresh and perfumed, while the palate is structured, yet the fruit is succulent enough for early enjoyment.  There is always a great yin and yang between the structure of the tannins and the suave middle- the spice seems to drive the structure, while the fruit powers the mid-palate.  The finish is quite long with just a hint of barrel spice.  This wine is drinking well in its youth, but should age effortlessly for 5-7 years.