2009 J. Christopher Pinot Noir Le Pavillon Vineyard

The 2009 Pinot Noir Le Pavillon comes from a vineyard farmed organically since 1999 and biodynamically since 2005. According to Jay Somers, “it is the masculine counterpart to Abbey Ridge”. It exhibits darker fruit than that wine as well as a focused, velvety-textured, hedonistic personality. It has enough structure to evolve for 1-2 years and will offer a drinking window extending from 2012 to 2021+. J. Christopher Wines (the winery of guitar aficionado Jay Somers) has not been reviewed in these pages since the 2001 vintage. Given the quality of this collection of wines, he must have been in hibernation or taking lessons from the elusive John Thomas. Better late than never! The following wines generally are aged for 16-20 months in 25% new French oak. Tel. (503) 231-5094; www.jchristopherwines.com