2010 Archery Summit Pinot Noir Red Hills Estate

(89 points)   From a rocky southern exposure in the northern Dundee Hills that constitutes their second largest block of vines, Archery Summit’s 2010 Pinot Noir Red Hills Estate displays a smoky, toasty, and resinous overtone from barrel that I associate with the two tonneliers favored for this bottling (and could do without!). It also evinces strongly gamey, smoked meat, and brown spice qualities that Matzinger says are site-typical (and which prompted her distinctive choice of barrels, not reflected in any other Archery Summit offering). Expansive and rich, its abundant dark berry fruit is almost confectionary, an impression reinforced by hints of maple syrup and macaroon. But despite the allusions to sugar cured ham, I miss any element of genuinely mouthwatering salinity in the finish. I speculate that this will be best drunk within the next half dozen years, but perhaps in the process its oak inflections and caramelized elements will more fully integrate.

Wine Advocate #202 Aug 2012