TN: Three 2006 Pinot Noirs from Harrington

[zin1953]

2006 Harrington Pinot Noir, Brosseau Vineyards (Chalone AVA, Monterey County, California) The bouquet shows notes of green tea, dried herbs and red berries, combined with cedar and earth; more open on the palate, with pomegranate, red fruits, cinnamon, and chocolate; there is good acidity, firm tannins underneath the fruit, which bode well for added cellaring; in the finish, the flavors linger, along with an earthy, mineral note.

2006 Harrington Pinot Noir, Iund Vineyard (Carneros AVA, Napa County, California): Very stylish, layered aromas of rose petal, raspberry, sour cherry, spice, combine with light earth, worn leather and sandalwood; on the palate, there are ripe cherries, berries, and other red fruits, coupled with light oak and toast; there is good acidity, tight structure, and long flavors in the slightly tannic finish, with obvious potential to be realized with added bottle age.

2006 Harrington Pinot Noir(Wild Horse Valley AVA, Napa County California) The aromas here display cranberry, chocolate, roasted nuts, evergreen and more, accented with light oak and spice; on the palate, the wine is round and flavorful, with well integrated tannins, with ample raspberry, cherry, blueberry fruits, mineral notes, earth, and wet stone; all this carries through the long finish, but there is clearly more development to come with additional age.

All three of these Pinots were, I thought, wonderful, bordering on excellent, but each was very different in its character. We all agreed that the Iund Vineyard (Carneros) had the most beautiful, enticing bouquet. Dare I say "Burgundian"? But it was less open on the palate, than the other two -- and it was "neck-and-neck" for which was preferred on the palate, the Brosseau (Carneros) or the Wild Horse (Napa). Ultimately, I think, the Wild Horse AVA that edged out the Brosseau, but all three wines were winners.

And for the technically minded among you . . .

Brosseau Vineyards, Chalone:
Harvest: September 19, 2006
Brix: 25.3
TA: .60
pH: 3.60
Alcohol: 14.8 %
Yeast: GRE, BGY, Assmanhausen, Native
Clone: 538
Cooperage: F. Freres, Billon, Mercurey, Remond, Rousseau, D&J.
Barrel duration: 10 months
Cases produced: 201
Bottled: August, 2007

Iund Vineyard, Carneros:
Harvest: September 28, 2006
Brix: 24.4
TA: .62
pH: 3.41
Alcohol: 14. 5%
Yeast: Assmanhausen, BGY, and Native
Clone: Martini
Cooperage: Gillet, Billon, D&J, 50% new.
Barrel duration: 10 months
Cases produced: 95 cases
Bottled: August, 2007

Wild Horse Valley:
Harvest: September 28, October 13 and 19, 2006
Brix: 25.1
TA: .58
pH: 3.59
Alcohol: 14.4 %
Yeast: Assmanhausen, BGY, GRE and Native
Clones: Pommard, Martini, Swan and 115
Cooperage: Fr. Freres, Moreau Cadus, Mercurey, Remond. 25% new.
Barrel duration: 10 months
Cases produced: 221
Bottled: August, 2007

Cheers,
Jason

[ibstatguy]

Jason - since you are or were ITB, do you have any idea who distributes their wine?

[zin1953]

Was. I got out after 35 years.

Bryan Harrington only makes Pinot Noir, though he makes MORE than just these three. In 2006, he made five; in 2005, he made four. But no wine in 2006 is made up of more than 221 cases. I think (but I am by no means positive) that he doesn't sell through wholesalers or distributors. Within California, he may use a broker, but out-of-state, I think it's winery direct-to-consumer sales off his mailing list . . .

You can check out http://www.harringtonwine.com/ or email at [e-mail]

Cheers,
Jason