2015 The Hilt Pinot Noir Vanguard

The 2015 Pinot Noir Vanguard is a stunningly beautiful, dramatic wine endowed with massive flavor intensity and sheer richness, featuring inky blue/purplish fruit, menthol, licorice and spice. There is not much subtlety here, and yet this wine is simply glorious. Fruit sources are Sanford & Benedict, Radian and Bentrock.

Pale to medium ruby-purple colored, the 2015 Pinot Noir Vanguard leaps from the glass with frisky Bing cherries, pomegranate and fresh cranberry notes plus hints of violets, cinnamon stick and fallen leaves. Medium-bodied, the palate gives a great intensity of crunchy, vibrant red berry flavors, framed by lovely ripe, grainy tannins and beautiful freshness, finishing long and perfumed.

The 2015 Pinot Noir Vanguard comes from slightly younger vines and see a portion aged in new French oak. It's similarly colored to the Old Guard cuvée but offers more fruit and polish on the nose. Cassis, dried cranberries, dried flowers and hints of mint all emerge from this layered, beautifully concentrated, focused Pinot Noir that's slightly more approachable than the Old Guard cuvée, yet should be just as long lived. It needs 3-5 years of cellaring to show its true potential. Farmed to “The Hilt,” these killer Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays are made by superstar winemaker Matt Dees. All these latest releases are going to benefit from 3-4 years of bottle age.