Hartford Court Velvet Sisters Pinot Noir California Anderson Valley 2012

 From an estate vineyard in Anderson Valley, the 2012 Pinot Noir Velvet Sisters was made from Dijon clones 115, 667, 777 and the Pommard selection. This sees about 32% new oak. Abundant notes of blueberries, raspberries and red cherries jump from the glass of this elegant, attractive, medium-bodied effort that resembles a premier cru from the Côte de Beaune. I tasted seven bottled Pinot Noirs from the sensational 2012 vintage. All of them are aged in 100% French oak, with the percentage of new oak ranging from a low of 25% to a high of 40%. Most of these wines spend 16 months in barrel prior to being bottled. (RP)