1997 Etude Pinot Noir Carneros Estate

Deep bright ruby-red. Reticent nose opens nicely to reveal raspberry, redcurrant, Cuban tobacco, lead pencil and oak spice, along with a floral topnote. Sweet and layered in the mouth; this got better and better as it opened in the glass. Deeper and more sophisticated than the very good '96 bottling; here the tannins are even finer.