2016 Big Basin Pinot Noir Old Corral
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Tasting notes
The 2016 Pinot Noir Old Corral is positively stellar and shows what can happen with a bit of time in bottle. Sweet red cherry, hard candy, rose petal and star anise give the 2016 striking inner sweetness and perfume that carries all the way through to the finish. In the glass, the 2016 is deep and resonant, but not at all heavy. The Old Corral tannins are there, but so well integrated into the wine's fabric.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2016 Pinot Noir Old Corral has shut down a bit since I tasted it last year, which is not bad, it just means readers have to be patient. There is a real tension to the 2016, with plenty of whole clusters overtones that add floral and savory lift. This is such a pretty wine, but it needs time in bottle to be at its best.
Translucent ruby-colored, the 2016 Old Corral Pinot Noir was not destemmed and spent 18 months in 25% new French oak. It's a juicy, elegant, complex red that has plenty of tart cherry, mulberry, dried herbs, and dried flower aromas and flavors. It's tight and nicely structured, with plenty of tannins, yet has solid balance and length. There's certainly not much baby fat here, but it has a lot going for it as well. I'd give bottles 2-3 years of cellaring and I suspect it's going to shine for 10-12 years.
The 2016 Pinot Noir Old Corral Estate Vineyard is the first Pinot from Bradley Brown's estate vineyard. Bright and lifted, with lovely underpinnings of energy, the 2016 has a lot to offer in its floral and red berry inflections. In this range, the Old Corral leans towards finesse, understatement and nuance, with a bit less fruit depth than some of the other vineyard designates. Even so, it is quite pretty. The 2016 was done with 100% whole clusters. This parcel was grafted from Syrah in 2015.