Santolin Wines - Gladysdale Pinot Noir - 2021

Willowlake vineyard, fermented wild, 30% new oak, bottled unfined and unfiltered. 275 dozen made. This is dry, structural and lengthy. It has herb, spice and nut-like characters built in but then it also uses reduction to positive effect. The fruit profile sits somewhere between cranberry and boysenberry – I want to call it red boysenberry – which I guess means that it’s red cherried, though because it’s laced with woodsmoke and garden herbs it comes across as juicy, meaty and fragrant. We’re generally in light-in-a-good-way territory, but with plenty going on. 93+ Points Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front