2012 Cristom Pinot Noir Eileen Vineyard

The 2012 Pinot Noir Eileen is the youngest estate-vineyard cuvee that debuted in 2000, so the vines are now around 15 years old, located at the highest elevation (it was once a Christmas tree farm.) It is planted with Dijon clones at 2,300 vines per acre. The nose is very attractive with refined red cherry, wild strawberry and red plum fruit that gently unfolds in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with a pert entry, crisp acidity and lip-smacking salinity. This is nicely structured with firm backbone that neatly offsets that black fruit toward the grippy finish. Give this a year in bottle and then it should continue drinking nicely over the next decade.