2014 Bloom's Field Pinot Noir

Also planted mid slope, the Bloom’s Field vineyard grows adjacent to La Côte but in iron-rich clay loam spotted with schist and chert. The site also has just a bit more wind exposure than the La Côte. Vinified 100% whole cluster and aged in Ermitage barrels for almost two years, around 20% new. Star-bright, transparent ruby colour. Giving aromatics of sweet spice and red fruit – a dusting of cinnamon, a sprinkle of nutmeg, and almost hints of ginger – with an underlying meaty note. The palate continues spice notes with dusty red cherry and flavours of fresh wintergreen – almost drinks like a wintery Christmas. With air these flavours shift to orange zest, rose petal and hints of nasturtium with an underlying meaty-savoury quality. This wine has an ample presence with a lower centre of gravity – deeper tones and more allusion of weight in the mouth, though not literally a heavier palate – than the La Côte or Siren’s Call. A feeling of a softer, more lush presence on the palate compared with the La Côte (which is not to call this wine either soft or overly lush) though air reveals plenty of tannins through the finish while remaining approachable and supple. The wine is intriguing in that it almost opens simply yet gains interest, attractiveness and integration with air. There is a lot of complexity here that will no doubt continue to integrate and evolve in bottle to also gain further elegance. (ECB)