past vintages of earth pinot noir
2022 Earth Pinot Noir
107 cases produced
unfined and unfiltered
label: Clare’s inspiration to complement Brian’s
release date April 23rd, 2024
pricing: $120
As in years past the Elusive Queen and Earth represent less than 5% of our production but hopefully capture all of the best magic possible from the vintage. Brian does the heavy lifting of tasting all the barrels and narrowing them down to the very best few, then I help him select the final barrels that end up in Earth and the Elusive Queen. They are our highest expression of the vintage and represent our taste, and our very best wine!
scores -
93 pts — Wine Spectator
97 pts — Editor’s choice International Wine Report
96 pts — Owen Bargreen
94 pts — Jeb Dunnuck
94 pts — Vinous
2021 Earth Pinot Noir
99 cases produced
unfined and unfiltered
$120 (sold out)
release date: March 28th, 2023
label: Clare’s inspiration to complement Brian’s
As in years past the Elusive Queen and Earth represent less than 5% of our production but hopefully capture all of the best magic possible from the vintage. Brian does the heavy lifting of tasting all the barrels and narrowing them down to the very best few, then I help him select the final barrels that end up in Earth and the Elusive Queen. They are our highest expression of the vintage and represent our taste, and our very best wine!
tasting notes - This wine opens with aromatics of Maraschino cherry and pomegranate seed with lingering woodsy notes. I’ve been known to put cinnamon into my cherry pie and that’s what this wine reminds me of on entry. Then it quickly follows with a full-bodied juicy cranberry and blackberry that slowly evolve into fruit leather with a soft cocoa with some nice tannin to hold on to those favors on the finish. These same tannins slowly recede to reveal a refined finish of a wild bramble of berries.
scores -
92 pts — Paul Gregutt
92 pts — Wine Spectator
96 pts — International Wine Report Editor’s Choice
94 pts — Wine Enthusiast Editor’s Choice
94 pts — Decanter
94 pts — Wine & Spirits
18+ pts — Jancis Robinson (20 pt system)
95 pts — Vinous
92 pts — Burghound/Allen Meadows
2019 Earth Pinot Noir
103 cases produced
unfined and unfiltered
release date: April 19th, 2021
$150 (sold out)
label: Clare’s inspiration to complement Brian’s
As in years past the Elusive Queen and Earth represent less than 5% of our production but hopefully capture all of the best magic possible from the vintage. Brian does the heavy lifting of tasting all the barrels and narrowing them down to the very best few, then I help him select the final barrels that end up in Earth and the Elusive Queen. They are our highest expression of the vintage and represent our taste, and our very best wine!
tasting notes -
A dark, mysterious, hedonistic beauty. Alluring aromatics of pomegranate seed, Montmorency cherries and fresh picked raspberries tussle with lingering woodsy notes of wild clover and dried tomato leaf. Full-bodied, juicy cranberry and dark plum slowly evolve into a rustic showcase of fruit leather, Italian spices, charred meats and chocolate ganache. A contemplative structure of savory, gravelly tannins slowly recede to reveal a refined finish of salted-caramel and cedar.
2018 Earth Pinot Noir
103 cases produced
unfined and unfiltered
$150 (sold out)
label-Clare’s creation to complement Brian’s
As in years past the Elusive Queen and Earth represent less than 5% of our production but hopefully capture all of the best magic possible from the vintage. Brian does the heavy lifting of tasting all the barrels and narrowing them down to the very best few, then I help him select the final barrels that end up in Earth and the Elusive Queen. They are our highest expression of the vintage and represent our taste, and our very best wine!
tasting notes-
The 2018 Earth is a bold expression of the vintage. Right out of the gate it’s dark color prepares you for the rich wild cherry, plum and stewed fruit profile. All this dark fruit is balanced by complex acidity, toasted spice and orange peel. As it unfolds you get tons of deep spicy flavors that will reward you for cellaring. With nice bright acid and present tannins this wine shows great promise for beautifully aging in bottle. The concentrated and structured nature of this wine will make it rewarding on day two as well.
scores —
95 pts — Washington Wine Blog
94 pts — Vinous/Josh Raynolds
2017 Earth Pinot noir
104 cases produced
unfined and unfiltered
$175 (sold out)
label-Clare’s creation to complement Brian’s
tasting notes -
This wine is very expressive on the nose showing cherry cordial, orange peel and chocolate ganache. With just a little air clove and orange brandy fruit aromas come out. On the palate the entry is very broad and full of fruit. All of the wine components are playing in equal volume, there is impeccable balance in this wine. The wine has beautiful silky tannins even as young as it is. There is persistent fruit on the very long finish. The concentrated and structured nature of this wine will make it rewarding on day two or with decanting.
scores -
95 points - Washington Wine Blog
95 points - International Wine Report
95 points - The Pinotfile - Prince of Pinot
95 points - Vinous
94 points - Wine & Spirits
93 points - James Suckling
95 points - Chicago Wine Dude
93 points - Purely Domestic Wine Report
92 points - Wine Spectator
2016 Earth Pinot Noir
105 cases produced
unfined and unfiltered
$175 (sold out)
label - Clare's inspiration to complement Brian's
tasting notes-
The 2016 Earth hints at the darker side of Pinot Noir with alluring aromas of blackberry and plum integrated with toasted fennel seed and black pepper. The fruit and floral characters are undeniably inviting, especially as they are balanced by savory spice and dark chocolate. As a sip unfolds you'll find harmonious flavors of Bing cherry, blueberry, lavender, toasted spices, orange peel and cocoa. Silken tannins spread broadly across the palate as dried fruit flavors of blueberry, plum and nectarine extend through the long finish. While wonderfully generous now, this wine will evolve beautifully with further time to age in bottle.
scores-
95 points — International Wine Report Top 100 wines of 2018
95 points — Vinous
94 points — James Suckling
94 points — Prince of Pinot
95 points — Washington Wine Blog
93 points — Wine Enthusiast
93 points — Wine & Spirits
2015 Earth Pinot noir
107 cases produced
unfined and unfiltered
$175 (sold out)
Balsam wood, boysenberry, black cherry, chocolate ganache, walnuts, black pepper. All of the wine components are playing in equal volume. There is impeccable balance in this wine, nothing sticks out, no edges or elbows, just everything moving across the palate in the same direction. The wine has a liquor like concentration on the palate and is the focus of the wine, with persistent sapid fruit on the very long finish. The concentrated and structured nature of this wine will make it rewarding on day two or with decanting.
scores—
95 points — International Wine Report
93 points — Wine Spectator
93 points — James Suckling
92 points — PinotFile
93 points / Cellar Selection — Wine Enthusiast
92 points — Allen Meadows' Burghound
2014 Earth Pinot noir
100 cases produced
unfined and unfiltered
$175 (sold out)
Immediately smells like maple syrup, breakfast sausage, and espresso. With just a little air, the fig jam, red current, and orange brandy fruit aromas come out. The aromas are very rich and well defined right now, making it a pleasure to smell in the glass. On the palate the entry is very broad and full of fruit. The wine remains juicy into the mid-palate and then a surprising amount of acidity kicks in, along with the spicy coriander, tightening the wine on the finish. It is incredibly generous wine and even greater length will emerge in time.
scores—
95 points — International Wine Report
94 points — The Pinot File