2016 Barda Pinot Noir

(12.5% alcohol): Bright, moderately saturated medium red. Pungent, high-pitched, soil-driven scents of raspberry, tart cherry, leather, spices, herbs and earth, plus a hint of orange peel. Supple and fairly smooth, conveying a tactile quality and lovely inner-mouth floral lift to its flavors of red berries, pepper and spices. Strong evidence of whole-cluster fermentation here. Perhaps not quite as complex in the mouth as the nose promises but this very fresh, spicy, perfumed wine boasts an exceptionally light touch for Argentine Pinot Noir. In fact, it reminded me of a very good lighter Burgundy from the Côte Chalonnaise.