2009 Finn Pinot Noir

The 2009 Pinot Noir Finn wraps around the palate with waves of dark red fruit. This is another plush, deep wine endowed with tremendous depth and sheer textural richness. Dark black cherries, flowers, spices and mint are layered in this effortless, totally gracious Pinot. The dark, sensual style is very inviting. The Finn is made from the best block in the Estate vineyard and another plot in Occidental Road.

The 2009 Pinot Noir Finn wraps around the palate with waves of dark red fruit. This is another plush, deep wine endowed with tremendous depth and sheer textural richness. Dark black cherries, flowers, spices and mint are layered in this effortless, totally gracious Pinot. The dark, sensual style is very inviting. The Finn is made from the best block in the Estate vineyard and another plot in Occidental Road. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2021. This is a very strong set of wines from DuMOL and winemaker Andy Smith. Like so many producers, DuMOL is in the midst of a stylistic shift that began around 2005. Smith described some of the estate’s earlier wines as a bit too heavy. Today’s approach emphasizes picking a bit earlier than in the past and places greater emphasis on complexity, structure and acidity. At times, the malolactic fermentations are blocked. The Chardonnays are barrel fermented and aged in oak (50% new) with all of their lees, but there is no stirring of the lees. Tel. (925) 254-8922; www.dumol.com