Cristom MT Jefferson Cuvee Pinot Noir 2016

The 2016 Mt. Jefferson Cuvée Pinot Noir is pale to medium ruby with a hint of purple. It has a lovely spicy nose of Bing cherries, red licorice, cranberries and black cherries over a core of cardamom, wet leaves, bergamot and cinnamon stick. Medium-bodied and silky textured, it has wonderful concentration of dark fruits in the mouth with great layers of earth and spice—wet leaves, mushroom, clove—with firm tannins to hold up all those layers and delightfully juicy acidity to carry the long, spicy finish.

Seductively floral red-fruit and sweet-spice complexity to this cleverly styled, quality pinot noir. The palate has an x-factor textural quality that holds firm and long, but does so in an ethereal, elegant mode. Seductive, playful finish. Great value. Drink or hold.