2015 Forêt Pinot Noir

Ruchottes Chambertain West
 

Our fascination with the great red Burgundies comes from the singular aromatics and complexities that are born in unique vineyards but a few kilometers apart. It is why we undertook the challenge and risk to focus on each specific clone of Pinot Noir that is best in harmony with each vineyard site – our Single Vineyard, Single Clone, and Single Cooperage wines – MonoClone®.

Forêt comes from a magnificent secluded vineyard near Occidental. The hillside vineyard has a northeastern exposure, a very steep slope, and is in the middle of a spectacular redwood forest. Just 6 miles from the Pacific Ocean on the western coastal range, is perhaps the most visually stunning vineyard which we are entrusted – the depth of aromatics and spice in Forêt is a pure reflection of this truly unique vineyard’s site, slope, climate, and clone. 

Tasting Notes 

Le Regard / The Look
Textural depth and luminosity showing density, grip, and structure, dark ruby & amethyst gemlike in the glass, supported by long legs.

Le Nez / The Nose
Wild aromas of bitter caramelized wild cherries, peppery plum confit, and earthiness interlaced with minty herbal tones, violets, cocoa nibs, and powerful scents of Alpine flora. As the wine evolves in the glass or decanter, the aromatics become more elegant and spiced. Dark cherry and boysenberry compote aromatics, superbly elegant and powerful, spiked with fennel, pine needles, and burned orange zest.

Degustation / The Taste
The front palate delivers a sublime balance between refinement and power. This is an extremely complex and layered wine, chewy at first, with an extraordinary texture of dark cherry and plum compote, perfumed with exotic spices, high herbal tones, bitter caramel, and black tea must. The mineral mid-palate is highly structured with a balanced tannin spine, only balanced by the pure peppery red fruit and cassis, bacon fat, anise, and fresh herbal aromatics, creating a wine of great verve and harmony. Foret is a unique concentration of complex layers showcasing the unique site in the middle of the redwood forest, where one can smell and taste all of the vineyard aromas in the glass. This is a wine of great length and texture, palpably dense in tannic and herbal concentration accented with bright natural acidity, creating a notably persistent finish. It will linger and linger and…This Pinot will age magnificently as the aromas will simply become more voluptuous with time and the tannins will become more tamed.

The 2015 Foret is very reminiscent of his cousin Ruchottes Chambertain, the Mystere continues...

Forêt…The Noble One.

13.% alc. 143 cases