2007 Chasseur Pinot Noir Sylvia's

From a tiny, one-acre parcel, the 2007 Pinot Noir Sylvia’s Vineyard is a dense, backward effort revealing notes of dried flowers, pomegranates, black raspberries, cherries, and hints of pepper and spice. This “locked and loaded” Pinot is more closed than the Sexton or the Rayhill, but is very promising. Full-bodied and rich, it begs for 1-2 years of cellaring, and should drink well for 5-8 years thereafter. Bill Hunter is a bigger-than-life guy working out of a low-tech warehouse producing hand-crafted, small lot wines in a French style. Production appears to have leveled off between 2,500 and 2,800 cases of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Virtually all of his vineyards are on the western fringes of the Russian River Valley where it segues into the Sonoma Coast appellation. Hunter calls it the West County triangle area, between Sebastopol, Freestone, and Occidental. Hunter’s winemaking philosophy demands the gentlest handling possible, with the wines moved by either Argon gas (the non-bruising neutral gas) or gravity, fermented in tiny lots, and bottled in most cases without any fining or filtration. Chasseur is definitely a reference point for consumers looking for the highest quality Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs from northern California. These are all very impressive wines that merit serious attention. Moreover, their prices are reasonable for the quality level. Chasseur’s Pinot Noirs are fermented in tiny, one-ton fermenters with some whole clusters (stems) used. Tel. (707) 829-1941; Fax (707) 829-1494