2021 Emeritus Vineyards 'Pinot Hill' Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast
Founded by Brice Cutrer Jones (formerly of Sonoma-Cutrer fame) in 1999, Emeritus Vineyards is a love letter to Pinot Noir. Focused exclusively on estate-grown, dry-farmed Pinot, the winery remains committed to sustainability, low-intervention winemaking, and preserving the natural character of each vineyard site.
The 2021 Pinot Hill blossoms with inviting aromas of herbs de Provence, toasted sesame, jute, balsam and tea. This is a wine that has a natural freshness that adds verve to the palate, elegant and balanced. This is a Scout favorite and definitely a wine to revisit over the coming decade as it evolves slowly in your cellar.
Decanter
The Pinot Hill bottling is from Emeritus' second estate site on the Sonoma Coast. Its location in the Pacific fog channel means it only sees a few hours of direct sunlight each day and is subject to whipping coastal winds. A wine of true elegance, with sea spray minerality framing aromatics of elegant smoky violets, white pepper and blood orange spritz. The palate is alive and vibrant but balances subtlety and nuance beautifully with the savoury nature of the Sonoma Coast. Wild fresh herbs, smoked sea salt and earthen mineral tones frame tart cranberries, blood orange and candied raspberry fruit flavours. The balanced acidity brings savoury elements of tomato leaf and wild anise brilliantly to the finish. This wine is a melange of both the East and West blocks of the vineyard. The Pinot Hill bottlings are my favourites from the well made 2021s from Emeritus Vineyards the second effort of Brice Cutrer Jones upon selling Sonoma-Cutrer, established in 1999.
Wine Spectator
An alluring version, with a mix of mesquite, anise and black tea notes swirling around a core of gently mulled black cherry, mulberry and boysenberry fruit. A gentle hand with the toast lets the fruit and spice notes mingle prettily through the finish. Drink now through 2033. 516 cases made.