2012 ROCO Wine Cellar Pinot Noir The Stalker
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The 2012 Pinot Noir The Stalker is Rollin Soles' "effort to keep it fresh." In 2011, he decided he wanted to do something different: this is a ripasso style of Pinot, or at least his own unique take on it. The berries from Wits' End and Marsh Estate vineyards are destemmed, and when the whole berries are doing the cold soak, Rollin dries the stems and then adds them back in to the blend. This is the second vintage, the name given after the cellar hands labelled the barrels thus. It has a well-defined bouquet with damp undergrowth, wilted rose petals and a vein of blueberry infusing the red fruit profile. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, well-judged acidity and plenty of sappy red berry fruit on the finish that begs another sip. I like this...plenty of character, cohesive and delicious, quite complex fruit, but it deserves 2 or 3 years in barrel. 324 cases produced.
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Average Score
Josh Raynolds
Neal Martin, Wine Advocate
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Vivid ruby-red. Aromas of pungent dark berries, black tea, cola and lavender, with a spicy nuance adding lift. Expansive blackberry and boysenberry flavors are lifted by gentle acidity and a hint of blood orange, which adds refreshing cut. Finishes smooth, sweet and long, with lingering smokiness and soft, round tannins.