Brian Loring’s Pinots have never shied from ripeness, and, while the current batch does not mark a dramatic departure in style, the 2012 offerings do pull back just a bit and show slightly more polish and restraint. The Keefer Ranch bottling is just such a case in point and delivers plenty of nicely concentrated, ripe cherry fruit with careful complements of oak and a bit of pertness that brightens the whole. It lacks for nothing in the way of richness, yet it hints at refinement as well, and it promises to do nothing but get better with age.

This full-bodied but far from heavy wine has wonderful aromatic complexity, evoking Bing cherries, black tea, clove and pine forest, while the flavors gush with red cherry and rhubarb. The slightly lean and crisp balance combines with bright and layered flavors in an appealing way. Best through 2020.

Notes of mostly red cherry and raspberry are nuanced by notes of plum, violets and tea. There is a bit more mid-palate density to the delicious and caressing medium-bodied flavors that coat the palate with dry extract on the balanced, lingering and complex finale where again a hint of warmth appears. This is really quite good and worth checking out plus it should drink well young if desired. 2019+