2012 Pinot Noir La Côte

This is a drop-dead gorgeous set of wines from Domaine de la Côte, a project headed by winemakers Rajar Parr and Sashi Moorman. Domaine de la Côte is essentially the second incarnation of vineyards that Moorman initially developed for Evening Land's Sta. Rita Hills operation. Parr and Moorman control farming on these sites, all of which lie just a few miles from the Pacific. The ability to call all the shots in the field, plus the pedigree of these vineyards result in Pinots loaded with class and pure energy. In addition to the 2012s, I also had a chance to revisit the 2011s, wines that are only now beginning to open up. Parr and Moorman give their Pinots about 19 months in barrel, which is on the long side by California standards. The Sta. Rita Hills Pinot is vinified with 50% whole clusters, while the vineyard designates are done with 100% whole clusters. All of the wines are aged in neutral oak. In short, these are some of the most viscerally thrilling Pinot Noirs being made in California today. Readers who haven't discovered Domaine de la Côte yet should do so before the wines gain the wider following they so richly deserve.

For more on Domaine de la Cote, readers might want to take a look at this recent video shot on location.