2008 Eric Kent Russian River Valley Pinot Noir Stiling Vineyard
We tried this breathtaking pinot while visiting Eric Kent in Santa Rosa last month for a barrel tasting. If you don’t know this producer already, you’re missing out! Kent himself is a super nice guy who seems really into what he’s doing. They’re a tiny operation: just him, his wife and his wife’s sister, all operating out of a winemaking cooperative. It sounds romantic though as I write that I keep remembering Kent on the tour repeating over and over again that winemaking is not nearly as romantic as it sounds. Well, whatever… this is excellent juice. Wine Spectator agrees, recently rating this 93 on their scale, but I didn’t need to read that to know this was good drinks.
The label on the wine is cool if a bit more subdued than the splendor in the glass. It looks like a photograph of a home overlooking the sea taken from inside. The artist, Kerry Mansfield, signed the label along with Kent Humphrey, the winemaker. I think that it is great the way the winery helps promote artists and I suppose the art helps promote the wine, too.
Kerry Mansfield’s work is fascinating. Look at her “aftermath” series where she photographs herself going through breast cancer treatment. Powerful stuff, like the wine.
This is an almost murky translucent dull red with a hypnotic aroma of rich clove and other spices. Wow! I’ve never smelled a wine like it. Wonderful!! The red fruit core is accented by dried herbs, spice box and more clove, with a rich full body on a long finish. Suave tannins contribute to its very elegant style. This is a wine and a producer to look for.