BH 92
Producer note: Nicole Lamarche told me that they began picking the 2013 crop "on the 6th of October and there was quite a bit of sorting required and just to be sure we sorted twice as it's hard to be precise in the vineyards. The flowering passed poorly so our yields were down around once again around 30% but at least we weren't hit by hail. There was good phenolic maturity to the fruit and I elected to use around 30% whole clusters, which is about the same amount that I employed in 2012. That said the fruit didn't have the same concentration as it did in 2012 so there was no point in pushing the extraction. Moreover I really wanted to preserve the freshness and silky textures that appeal to me so I limited the number of punch downs. As to the wines they are refreshing and wonderfully transparent as you can really see the differences between one wine and another." Lamarche noted that her 2012s, three of which are revisited below, were bottled in April 2014.
Tasting note: A deft application of wood sets off very spicy, cool and airy aromas of red and black pinot fruit along with notes of violet and lavender. There is good power to the luscious, concentrated and seductively textured medium weight plus flavors that deliver fine depth and length on the moderately firmly structured finish. This should be ready to go with 10 to 12 years of cellaring though not be overly austere young if desired.
