2012 Bloom's Field Pinot Noir

Coming from a windy, 7.5-acre plot of red, iron rich soils, that’s always the last to be picked, the 2012 Pinot Noir Bloom’s Field has notions of plum, pepper, iron and salty minerality to go with a medium-bodied, yet big-boned and structured feel on the palate. I love the purity here, and it opens up nicely in the glass, has solid mid-palate depth and building tannin. It too should be approachable on release, yet I suspect it will benefit from short-term cellaring. A collaboration between Rajat Parr and Sashi Moorman, Domaine de la Cote focuses on Pinot Noir from the Sta. Rita Hills. Their estate vineyard is located as far west as you can go in the appellation and is southeast-facing, which gives it some shelter in this windswept AVA. The wines are made in focused, elegant style, and shine for their purity and precision. The 2012s, while still in barrel, have a touch more texture and richness, with no loss of purity. This is a rock-solid estate. www.domainedelacote.com

Rich, explosive and powerful, the 2012 Pinot Noir Bloom's Field hits the palate with intense savory notes, red plum, pomegranate, mint and a host of lifted, beautifully perfumed notes. The Bloom's Field can sometimes be slow out of the gates, but in 2012 it is positively explosive.