Sadly, Sine Qua Non’s final Pinot Noir will be the 2005 “Over and Out” Arita Hills Vineyard. That’s a shame as their Pinot Noir has always been one of my favorites – always rich and full-flavored rather than a dumb-downed, wimpish, and diluted faux-French imitation. This beauty has put on considerable weight since I tasted it twelve months ago. Made from Dijon clones 115 and 777, it reveals a classic Cotes de Nuits-like perfume of damp forest floor intermixed with sweet cherries, plums, figs, and spring flowers. This could easily be mistaken for a Clos de la Roche from Morey St.-Denis, but with purer fruit and a more savory texture. Dominated by its beautiful fruit and complexity, with the oak component kept in the background, it should drink well for 8-10 years.
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