Easton Wines Duarte-Georgetown Vineyard Pinot Noir 2014

Terre Rouge and Easton Wines was founded in the late 80’s by husband and wife team Bill Easton and Jane O’Riordan. Winemaker Bill honed his palate at his Berkeley wine shop Solano Cellars along with his extensive European wine travels. Jane, a chef, operated the bistro at Solano, changing the menu weekly to match the wines Bill offered for tasting. In 1994, the couple moved to Amador County where they are still based today. Paired with the estates’ wines, Jane started a catering business and is responsible for all the food at Terre Rouge and Easton events. Bill is one of the original Rhône Rangers, receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award from the group in 2016, as well as a pioneer of Rhône varietals in the Sierra Foothills. Today, the Terre Rouge portfolio focuses on wines crafted from traditional Rhône grapes; whereas Easton Wines is home to Bill’s non-Rhône wines. These are based on varietals that have traditionally worked best in Amador County and the Sierra Foothills, but also a small selection of grapes new to the region. The two estates craft over thirty wines (many in very small production lots), each unique and site-specific with a sense of place (terroir) in the on the volcanic and granitic soils of the Sierra Nevada foothills at high altitudes (some vineyards are as high as 3,200 feet!)

Bill’s 2014 Duarte-Georgetown Pinot Noir pours an intense mid-ruby red with a faint brickish rim. A swirl of the glass reveals soaring aromas of tart cherry and macerated raspberries underlain with hints of forest floor and truffles. A filigree acidity and ultra-soft, velvety tannins swaddle a dense core of juicy fruit infused with a savory umami quality. This Pinot is incredibly well-composed, gliding towards a graceful, seemingly endless finish. Aged to perfection in Bill’s Amador County cellar, this wine will be stunning tonight though be sure to tuck away a few bottles to enjoy over the next 5+ years.