Benchmark Wine Cellar
Aubert Vineyards Pinot Noir CIX Vineyard 2011
The Winery
Aubert Vineyards
Nothing better fosters a love and passion for winemaking than growing up on a Napa Valley winery. It inevitably ignites a spark within these few lucky folks but Mark Aubert is one of the few with that passion and the ability to execute it so adeptly. Aubert’s distinguished career began by working with renowned wine maker Helen Turley who also coaches Philippe Melka and Heidi Barrett.
In 1999 Aubert Vineyard was born and has been crafting outstanding vineyard-designate Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs from estate and leased vineyards in the Russian River Valley and Sonoma Coast in a full-blown hedonistic style. Stylistically the wines are prefect representations of the terroir from which they grow, especially the Right-Bank approach to his Howell Mountain Bordeaux blend.
Aubert has quickly became one of the most highly sought after wines in California and with a small production of 4,000 cases per annum, they are harder and harder to find and available primarily via the mailing list. Using his experience with some of California's most prestigious producers, Mark has created a brand that rivals all Pinot and Chardonnay in the New World. This is especially true for the 86 Futo- a Pinot Noir project with Abreu, which was bestowed 95 pts from Parker. Impossible to leave unmentioned when discussing Aubert is his 99pt Parker awarded Reuling Vineyard- the utmost score ever given to a New World Chardonnay.
Summary
The Aubert Vineyards Pinot Noir CIX Vineyard 2011 is a distinguished wine from California's Sonoma Coast, crafted from meticulously farmed low-yield grapes. This estate-bottled Pinot Noir showcases a blend of dark red cherries, floral notes, and hints of mint and licorice, creating a beautifully focused and nuanced profile. The cool climate of the 2011 growing season contributed to its vibrant acidity and structured tannins, resulting in a wine with elegance and potential for further development. Aged in French oak, this wine is both energetic and refined, making it a prized selection for collectors, particularly in its large-format magnum bottle. The blend consists solely of Pinot Noir.
Tasting Notes
- WA91
- The 2011 Pinot Noir CIX Vineyard is gorgeous. Dark red cherries, flowers, mint and licorice all come together nicely. A pointed, beautifully articulated wine, the 2011 impresses for its focus, length and nuance. Like its Chardonnay sibling, the CIX Pinot lacks a little of the mid-palate stuffing that will likely come with further vine age. Today, the CIX is a bit tight, but I imagine it will always remain energetic and vibrant in style. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2021.
- V91
- The 2011 Pinot Noir CIX Vineyard is gorgeous. Dark red cherries, flowers, mint and licorice all come together nicely. A pointed, beautifully articulated wine, the 2011 impresses for its focus, length and nuance. Like its Chardonnay sibling, the CIX Pinot lacks a little of mid-palate stuffing that will likely come with further vine age. Today, the CIX is a bit tight, but I imagine it will always remain energetic and vibrant in style.
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