Lots of purple fruit with cherry and raspberry character and hints of violets on the nose. Full body that is very dense with defined layers. Yet, remains agile and fresh. Hints of salt. A little reserved now. Needs two or three years of bottle age. Better in 2021.

95+ The 2016 Pinot Noir Gaps Crown comes from a great, great site on the Sonoma Coast and saw 15% whole clusters and 40% new wood. It’s a deep, rich, blacker fruit-driven effort that shows more and more savory, iron, and earthy notes with time in the glass. It’s ripe and opulent on the palate, with building tannin, yet packs a wealth of fruit and texture, while still showing the more elegant, balanced style of the vintage.

Everything is moving in the right direction, from the snappy wild berry and plum flavors to the crushed rock and savory underbrush notes. Ends with fine-grained tannins that bode well for the future. Drink now through 2024. – JL