2016 Peter Michael Pinot Noir Ma Danseuse

Medium to deep ruby-purple, the 2016 Pinot Noir Ma Danseuse is a little closed, offering glimpses of red currants, black raspberries, wild blackberries and mulberries plus wafts of garrigue, tilled soil, fallen leaves and rose hip tea. The palate is medium-bodied with firm, ripe, grainy tannins and muscular fruit, finishing very long and very earthy. 887 cases produced.

More black raspberries, spice, red currants, scorched earth and spice characteristics define the 2016 Pinot Noir Ma Danseuse, and it's incredibly seamless, yet concentrated, powerful, and multi-dimensional on the palate. This is a true wow, blockbuster styled wine that needs to be tasted to be believed. Located north of Napa Valley, in the Knights Valley AVA of Sonoma, Peter Michael utilizes the incredible talent of Frenchman Nicolas Morlet (whose brother Luc runs Morlet Estate in Napa, and was previously the winemaker at Peter Michael). These classic, traditionally made wines certainly have an old world feel/style, yet never lose their California soul. They produce two brilliant Bordeaux Blanc look-alikes, a bevy of Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs, and three Bordeaux blends. It can be a complex lineup to wrap your head around, but the cuvees show singular characters and the quality is off the charts.

The 2016 Pinot Noir Ma Danseuse is laced with the essence of dark cherry, plum, new leather, spice, white chocolate and cloves. This site seems to be a bit more inherently well-suited to the Peter Michael style, as the elements in the wine are very nicely integrated, including the new oak component.