2012 Kutch Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

Bright ruby. Deeper and darker in profile than the Falstaff, with an expressive bouquet that evokes boysenberry, cherry pit, star anise and fresh flowers. Sweet blueberry and boysenberry flavors show very good focus and energy, with a subtle peppery note adding lift and cut. Closes with echoing florality, a hint of blue fruit and smooth, slow-building tannins. (JR)

Blend of two-thirds of fruit from the Campbell Ranch in the north west of this capacious appellation and a third from Sonoma Stage that is so far south it is almost on San Pablo Bay. Decanting recommended. I tasted it over three nights. 100% whole bunch. Really quite a rich nose but more tremulous on the palate. Seems to have a little oakiness on the palate but far from sweet and rich overall. Hint of coffee grounds. Fresh and with a streak of green. Interesting tension. Not very burgundian but that is not a criticism! Just slightly raw on the finish at this stage. A little bit heftier than the Falstaff single-vineyard bottling. (JR)

Kutch's 2012 Pinot Noir (Black Label) emerges from one of the very finest sites on the Sonoma Coast. It is also the darkest and most powerful of these Pinots. It will be interesting to see if the 2012 softens up with time. Today, the Black Label is massively tannic. It will be interesting to see how it develops. There is plenty of intensity in the fruit, but whether or not the wine develops finesse is more of an open question at this point. Editors' Note: This wine was never bottled or commercially released. The wine in barrel was ultimately used in the Sonoma Coast bottling.