2016 Highland Divide Pinot Noir

The 2016 Pinot Noir Highland Divide shows a savory style to the Russian River with lots of dried herb and darker berry fruit aromas. It’s medium-bodied, seamless, and silky, with a beautiful forest floor/sous bois-like character developing with time in the glass. It too should drink beautifully for at least 4-5 years. I still remember tasting with Andy Smith while I was writing The Rhône Report and I was thrilled to be able to sit down and go through all of his wines on this occasion. Stylistically, Smith makes a fresh, vibrant style of wine, yet I never find them lacking for depth and or texture. Looking at the Chardonnays, these are made in a reductive, age-worthy style and the clear majority have distinctly Burgundian profiles. These are beautiful wines that, at least to my palate, surpass the quality of the Pinot Noirs, which are slightly more variable. Nevertheless, the top Pinot Noirs are certainly up with the crème de la crème of the region. While Andy favors a tight, age-worthy style of Chardonnay, the Pinot Noirs are made in a slightly more forward style. In addition to the Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays, DuMOL also produces a handful of world-class Syrahs, as well as one of the top examples of Viognier coming out of California. Both the 2015s and 2016s reviewed here are terrific wines, with the 2016s showing slightly more balance and elegance, but you can’t go wrong with either vintage here.

The 2016 Pinot Noir Highland Divide is a pretty, lifted wine. Bright red berry fruit, blood orange, floral aromatics and mid-weight structure give the 2016 tons of appeal. I would prefer to drink this gracious, airy Pinot over the next handful of years.

The 2016 Pinot Noir Highland Divide is a pretty, lifted wine. Bright red berry fruit, blood orange, floral aromatics and mid-weight structure give the 2016 tons of appeal. I would prefer to drink this gracious, airy Pinot over the next handful of years.