Thomas Fogarty Pinot Noir Windy Hill Vineyard 2017 (1.5L) *

Pinot Noir grown in California takes many shapes, and this estate-grown bottling from Thomas Fogarty leans toward the lighter, more perfumed end of the spectrum. The 2017 comes from the Windy Hill Vineyard, a single site farmed by the producer, and it shows the pale to medium ruby color that often signals a Pinot built on lift rather than weight.

Expect aromas of dried black cherries and crushed blueberries edged with loamy earth, Earl Grey tea leaves, dried herbs, peppercorn and laurel, all lifted by a thread of floral perfume. The palate is light to medium-bodied, soft and inviting, with a firm, faintly chalky texture that gives the red fruits some grip. Wildflowers, mint, licorice and lavender weave through the middle, and while the finish turns just slightly slender, it stays juicy and long. A pretty, floral Pinot that needs little to no cellaring.