Unsworth 2022 Saison Vineyard Pinot Noir 750ml

Unsworth has been releasing a single vineyard pinot from Saison Vineyards for some time now. The properties of glacial till soils appear to be the magical answer to the fussy pinot noir grape. The blend mixes clones 667, 777, and 828. The winemaking is the same for all the pinots: destemmed fruit and whole berry fermentations in French oak using very little new oak, in this case only 15%, for 15 months. Saison has a fragrant nose with local wild strawberry, some florals, and deeper dark fruit, that in Island speak, are always subtle. There is a purity here that pinotphiles seek but seldom encounter. The finish is filled with spice and complex joy. This is a provincial treasure, which is why it is so hard to buy most years.

Score: 93 points -- Anthony Gismondi, gismondionwine.com, 2025