2022 Beaux Frères ‘The Upper Terrace’ Pinot Noir Ribbon Ridge

JD98 The 2022 Pinot Noir The Upper Terrace is from a vineyard adjacent to Sequitur and planted in 1999. A reflective red hue, the wine is a bit reduced on opening, with notes of black raspberries, dark stones, a hint of violets, and sage, then takes on more lifted woodsy spice, toast, and piney herbs. It fills the palate with a plush texture and pure, ripe fruit and has a seamless feel and a long finish. It’s going to age gracefully and offer a wide drinking window over the coming 15 or so years, but if opening soon, it will benefit from decanting.
VIN96 The 2022 Pinot Noir The Upper Terrace has a stony quality that adds lovely depth, opening with a blend of dusty dried flowers, savory spice, dried wild berries and hints of cedar. Seamlessly silky, it floods the palate with masses of ripe fruit and a cascade of inner florals, revealing a stern mineral core as sweet tannins frame the finish. This leaves a staining of primary concentration, tapering off with amazing length and potency. An air of lavender resonates over a tinge of tart blackberry fruit.