Friday we visited our friends at the Artisan Wine Depot in search of pinot noir. James informed me that a few 2012 pinot noir vintages had arrived. Specifically, he recommended the Siduri Russian River Valley blend and the always-reliable Sean Minor Four Bears. He also gave a rave, two-thumbs-up, review of the 2012s generally. This is our early look at the 2012s.
In a few words, James is correct. The Siduri has powerful aromas of cherry and rose petals, followed by a delicious mouthful of pure fruit. A bargain at $27 (Artisan price). The Sean Minor is less complex with minerality overlaying the fruit aromas. The style is lighter than the Siduri, tending toward raspberries. And it’s only $12.
We look forward to additional releases of more of what looks like an outstanding vintage. As a side note, Siduri has redesigned their label, going for a somewhat more traditional, sharper, and cleaner look:
Siduri New Label
