Breggo’s 2010 Pinot Noir Ferrington Vineyard wafts from the glass with sweet dark cherries, plums, licorice and menthol. Deeply flavored yet weightless in the glass, the 2010 Ferrington is a model of elegance, purity and sheer beauty – in other words, the qualities that make Anderson Valley Pinots so appealing and just plain delicious. The pointed, beautifully articulated finish is very nicely done. This is a gorgeous wine from Breggo and proprietor Cliff Lede. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2018. Breggo is Cliff Lede’s Anderson Valley project. This year, at last, I preferred the Pinots over the whites. The 2010s still have a sheen of new French oak. I would prefer to give the wines another 6-12 months in bottle to see if the elements fuse together a little more completely. Still, that is a relatively small critique. There is a lot to like in this range from Breggo.Tel. (707) 895-9589

The 2007 Pinot Noir Ferrington Vineyard exhibits lots of leafy, floral, blueberry, and black cherry characteristics, medium to full body, good depth, and hints of Chinese black tea and earth. As in all of these Pinots, the oak component is pushed to the background. This superb white winemaking estate also knows a thing or two about fashioning delicate, feminine-styled Pinot Noirs. I was surprised to learn that it was purchased by Cliff Lede last year, and I was happy to see that the 2008s, which can be somewhat problematic in Anderson Valley because of all the wild fires and resulting smoke damage, were not affected. I did not have the opportunity to taste Breggo Cellars’ Sauvignon Blanc (usually one of the finest made in California), but I did taste their two cuvees of Syrah, the 2007 Syrah Alder Springs and 2007 Syrah, both of which were relatively average in quality.Tel. (707) 895-9589