2009 Kupe Pinot Noir

Bright full red. The nose combines pungent high-toned spices and pepper with a liqueur-like ripeness that verges on roasted. Then thick and concentrated in the mouth, with the very ripe strawberry and plum flavors perked up a bit by herbs but coming off as a bit alcoholic. For all its stuffing, there's also a somewhat tired nutty element that gives the finish a dryness. These ten-year-old vines may have gotten too ripe too fast.