Kingston Family 2011 Pinot Noir "Alazan" 750ml

This is a very pretty wine, with a lot going on.  For me, rose and orange peel are the keys to its immediate appeal on the nose.  But there’s plenty of fruit too: ripe, or even preserved cherries come to mind.  And, with a little air, earthy (and characteristically Pinot) notes emerge, while the orange peel evolves into a bouquet of sweet spices.  Flowers, fruit and spice all carry through the palate, with smooth tannins holding it all together.  Does anyone make duck a l’orange anymore?
–Jesse Richmond

Brilliant ruby-red. Primary aromas of dark berry and cherry preserves, complicated by hints of rose and Asian spices. Plush yet precise black raspberry and boysenberry flavors stain the palate, with a smoky quality gaining power with air. Finishes spicy and long, with suave floral character and smooth, even tannins.
91 pts. Josh Raynolds (Tanzer, Feb 2014)