90POINTS
16½/20
Kutatas Ferment Nine Pinot Noir 2018
Saanich Peninsula, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, CanadaOne of two 2018 North Saanich pinot noirs from the same 1 hectare, dry-farmed, clay-soiled vineyard. Both are clone 114 at 200+m altitude, and they were picked same day. However, for this very limited release (a single ferment), 40% whole cluster was used before a native ferment over 5 weeks, and aging in 2-3 year French oak barrels for 14 months. It was bottled unfined and unfiltered. Don't let the heavyweight bottles, or thick wax fool you. This is an elegant, medium+ pinot noir. Wild raspberries, cherries, black plums is lashed with ample marine salinity, and layered with perfumed plum on the textural, yet silken palate. Tannins are finely grippy and long, housing this to a lingering spiced / saline finish. There's an alluring dark floral note darting throughout the underneath of this silken wine. Drinking beautifully now, in youth, but has the structure to cellar over the next few years. Certainly a winery to watch. While they have a light vit/vini footprint, I hope they can move their packaging into an equally sustainable and modern way.Tasted: 14 April 2021Tasted by: Treve RingPrices:BC | $40.00 | 750ml | winery direct |
Grape: Pinot Noir