Opaque ruby. Pungent, expressive bouquet offers dark berry compote, cola, vanilla bean and incense qualities, along with slow-building spiciness and notes of clove and mocha. Lush, palate-coating blackberry and mulberry flavors are lifted by gentle acidity and complicated by notes of spicecake and candied violet. Tannins build with air and carry through a very long, sweet, oak-spicy finish. This is a baby.

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One of the Sea Smoke flagships, the 2009 Pinot Noir Ten impresses for its depth and sheer power. Layers of flavor flow through to the huge, dramatic finish in a full-bodied, intense Pinot. Once the intensity of the fruit fades, there is not much development in the glass, which results in an overall impression of one-dimensionality. The Ten is made from all ten Pinot clones planted on the property. While a solid effort, I expected more from this offering, which also happens to be the wine through which I discovered Sea Smoke years ago.

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This tight and focused Pinot displays a firm beam of red fruit, built around snappy black cherry and wild berry flavors, with a cleansing aftertaste.

Professional content appears courtesy of Vinfolio

Professional content appears courtesy of Vinfolio