Tyler "MAE" Estate Pinot Noir

As with the Chardonnay equivalent of this bottling, the 2022 Pinot Noir Mae Estate CP is a barrel-selection cuvée that offers a more complete expression of the vineyard. The nose is dark-fruited and elegantly luxurious, introducing a rich, toasty palate that retains dexterity and vibrancy despite the influence of new oak. The finish combines saturated decadence with a grainy, somewhat edgy tannin profile that will take a year or so to soften. As is consistent across the Mae Estate bottlings, the potential is more than evident here, and I am eager to follow its progress as the vines mature.

The 2022 Pinot Noir Mae Estate Vineyard CP is a selection of the best barrels in the cellar. It offers fine depth in the understated style that runs through all these wines. Red-toned fruit, chalk, mint, spice and orange peel are nicely delineated. It will be interesting to see how this develops in time. The high percentage of stems (67%) and new oak (100%) mark the wine, but ultimately, my impression is that these young vines simply struggled in 2022.