Medium ruby-purple in color, the 2009 Gibbston Vineyard Pinot Noir has a good intensity of ripe red cherry and pomegranate notes with some tree bark, violets and damp loam. Full bodied, crisp and tight-knit, it has a firm level of fine grained tannins and a long finish. Drink it now to 2015+. No known USA importer.

(14% alcohol): Good full red. Pungent strawberry, black raspberry, smoked meat and violet on the nose; a bit reminiscent of Cote-Rotie. Then vibrant and juicy in the mouth, with intense crushed berry flavors complemented by spices, herbs and a saline nuance. Less fat and sweet than the 2008 version of this bottling, but this has a terrific spine of acids and tannins for slow evolution in bottle. Actually a bit clenched today on the back end, but a subtle sweetness builds impressively as the wine opens in the glass. I'd like to come back to this one in a couple years.