Emeritus Pinot Noir

In June Patty and I had traveled to Oregon und then south to Sonoma County, California.
In Sebastopol - Russian River Valley - we were invited to visit Emeritus Vineyards, founded by Mr. Brice Cutrer Jones (formerly of Sonoma Cutrer). At Emeritus they only grow Pinot Noir - 100% and a very Burgundian Pinot! It is very different from what you see in the market where most Pinots today contain a healthy percentage on Syrah. Mr. Blackburn the founding winemaker of Emeritus was trained in Burgundy and brought this style of wine to Emeritus. Unfortunately Mr. Blackburn was suddenly taken away by cancer earlier this year and his former assistant Nicolas is now the winemaker at Emeritus, continuing the style of wines that Mr. Blackburn started. Interestingly - Blackburn an American trained and worked in Burgundy, France and Nicolas, a French man trained and worked in California.
The new 2007 vintage has been released - according to Brice is is one of the best in California (see an interview with Brice Cutrer Jones here).
The new Vintage should arrive in Indianapolis the first week of November 2009. It is available in Restaurants only at this point. It is a full bodied wine on the very dry side through the finish. Lots of tannins, this wine should age well too - lots of mineral laced berry and currant. Go ask for Emeritus Pinot Noir from Russian River valley next time you eat out.