2014 Peter Michael "Clos du Ciel" Fort Ross-Seaview Pinot Noir (750ml)

Their most limited cuvée for true connoisseurs, and also the warmest site of the three coastal vineyards, is the 2014 Pinot Noir Clos du Ciel. This is a vineyard planted on clay with a lot of rocks and basalt. The result is a Pinot Noir with plenty of earth, firm tannins, a touch of underbrush, spring flowers, and loads of raspberries and black cherry fruit. The acids seem well-integrated and the tannins moderate, but fine. All of these Pinot Noirs have at least 15 years of life left. (RP) (10/2016)

The 2014 Pinot Noir Clos du Ciel is the most powerful and structured of the 2014 estate Pinots. Beams of tannin and acidity give the 2014 much of its personality. Like all of these 2014s, the Clos du Ciel is quite shut down while the oak needs time to integrate. Still, there is plenty of underlying intensity waiting to emerge. (AG)  (8/2016)