2011 Red Car Pinot Noir Doc's Ranch Vineyard

(12.1% alcohol): Vivid ruby-red. Seductive aromas of raspberry, cherry-cola and fresh rose, with Asian spice and anise accents building with air. Juicy and precise on the palate, offering gently sweet red fruit flavors and a suave floral quality. Shows impressive energy and clarity on the finish, which features a zesty blood orange nuance.

The 2011 Pinot Noir Doc’s Ranch is laced with autumn leaves, tobacco, wild flowers and dried herbs. This is one of the more feminine 2011s in the range. At times, the Doc’s Ranch is a bit fragile, suggesting it needs to be enjoyed sooner rather than later, as the fruit does not have a ton of vibrancy. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2016. Red Car is one of the most exciting young wineries in Sonoma. Under proprietor Carroll Kemp, the wines have made huge strides in quality just over the last few years. Red Car’s Estate vineyard was only planted beginning in 2006, with Syrah, which was followed by Pinot Noir in 2007. Beginning with the 2011 vintage, Red Car has begun to get rid of the fanciful proprietary name (which always struck me as a bit of a gimmick) in favor of vineyard names, a choice that seems much more appropriate for a winery with this level of ambition. Tel. (707) 829-8500