2014 Pinot Noir Estate Reserve

In Brian O'Donnell's opinion, the 2014 Pinots that will ultimately be the most successful "are the ones that came from high-altitude vineyards" that enjoyed overall cooler conditions during the hot growing season, "which helped to preserve their natural acidity and will keep them in balance." It's an impressive vintage, for sure, he added, with the minor caveat that "the key question is, will the ripe ones – and there are a lot – develop over time or will they be better on the young side for their opulence?" The Belle Pente style has always favored freshness and a light touch and, for a ripe vintage, these are notably lively and red-fruited in character, which was also the case with O'Donnell's 2012s, another uncommonly warm vintage.