2017 Pinot Noir

Long-time winemaker Dave Paige, who had held that role since 2001, departed this iconic winery to start his own project at the end of 2017. He turned his responsibilities over to Gina Hennen, who has been at Adelsheim since 2007, assuming the role of Assistant Winemaker in 2015. The style of wines favors savory, even earthy character and structure over flamboyant fruit, and it has been consistent since I first encountered them (in the form of the 1983 bottlings) in 1985. The Adelsheims took their winemaking inspiration from Burgundy. That spirit definitely imbues these 2015s, which show the typical depth of the vintage avoiding excess ripeness or overt dark fruit character. I suspect that these will be long-lived wines, better suited for the patient Pinot lovers than those with itchy corkscrews, even if they are pretty delicious now, at least with some aeration.