The 2019 Pinot Noir Emery comes from newly defined parcels in the Emery block at Willakenzie estate. "In 2019, we carved out some pieces of Emery that looked different," winemaker Erik Kramer explained. "If the vines look that different, something is going on, and there's no way it's not affecting the grapes. Now we have the estate and the space to engage in that type of detective work." The parcels, planted to 667, 777 and Pommard clone vines, run along a central ridge of the estate from around 600-700 feet in elevation. Medium ruby, it has very pretty scents of red cherry and raspberry with nuances of rooibos tea, star anise, lilac and mushroom. The medium-bodied palate unfolds its complex flavor layers slowly, framed by abundant, chalky tannins and bursts of mouthwatering acidity, and it finishes with notable length and detail.

Pale ruby-purple, the 2018 Pinot Noir Emery has a pretty perfume of wild berries, licorice, pencil shavings, nori and forest floor, unfolding as it spends time in the glass. The medium-bodied palate has an alluring, clay-like texture that anchors its concentrated fruits, and it has a long, fresh, spicy finish. It will benefit from another 2-3 years in bottle or a couple hours in the decanter.

Youthfully slow to open, the medium ruby colored 2017 Pinot Noir Emery takes time to offer up dried tobacco leaves, Earl Grey tea leaves, dried lavender, cranberries and pomegranate aromas with notes of blackberries, fragrant earth, citrus peel and amaro. It's medium-bodied and silky with slowly blossoming fruit, spice and earth layers, firmly framed and fresh with a long, layered finish. This will benefit from another year or two in bottle. 800 cases produced.

Pale ruby-purple in color, the 2016 Pinot Noir Emery has a nose of sweet fruits—strawberry, raspberry and peach jam—with underlying broody notions of cardamom, leather, forest floor and pipe tobacco—there are a lot of layers on the nose. Light to medium-bodied, it has wonderful layers of savory spice, fruits and earth. It's got very fine, grainy, pixelated but powerful tannins and juicy acidity carrying the very long, spicy, sweetly fruited finish. This is beautiful now but will benefit from a couple of years in bottle. 750 cases produced.

The 2012 Pinot Noir Emery is reticent on the nose at first, reluctantly revealing blackberry and raspberry scents, hints of iodine and cedar scents emerging with time. The palate is medium-bodied with supple red cherry fruit, lightly spiced with sage and white pepper notes sprinkled over what is quite a firm structure, considering the vintage. Good weight in the mouth and quite persistence, I would afford this a year or two in bottle and it should evolve into a lovely Pinot Noir.