One can’t help but taste rock when sipping this wine. The minerality is palpable, underscoring a compact frame of earthy tannins, savory herbs and brambly cranberry fruit. It’s a particular expression of a unique place, made by a veteran winemaker, Robert Brittan, who knows what flavors he wants and how to get them.

Medium ruby, the 2011 Pinot Noir Basalt Block has lovely scents of green and white peppercorn, crushed shell and wet stone, crunchy blackberries and cranberries with an earthy undercurrent and potpourri hints. The palate is medium-bodied and slow to open, with oodles of minerally accents. It’s super juicy with very fine, grainy tannins and a long, fresh finish. This is extraordinarily fresh and has plenty of life ahead. - Erin Brooks

A restrained and distinctly cool nose only grudgingly gives up aromas of both red and dark pinot fruit along with hints of earth, spice and briar. There is a lovely sense of detail and plenty of punch to the textured middle weight flavors that terminate in a dusty, delicious and lingering finish where there is a mild trace of youthful asperity. This is slightly awkward today though my score offers the benefit of the doubt that it will come together with a few years of bottle age.