96 Points Jeb Dunnuck
The Haakon/Lenai Vineyard was planted in 1998, from certified organic estate fruit (777, Pommard, Wadenswil, 115, and 114 Dijon clones) on a deep pan of Jory soils. In the glass, the 2023 Pinot Noir Haakon/Lenai offers a bright ruby red hue and has more nervous tension compared to the Latchkey Vineyard, initially revealing focused notes of bright spices before starting to unravel more complex aromas of compact wild berries, dark berries, fresh wild herbs, sage, tarragon, and cardamom. It offers a medium-bodied frame, with coiled tannins, balanced acidity, and its sunny fruit shining through on the finish.
95 Points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2023 Pinot Noir Haakon Lenai floods the senses with expressive raspberry, wild cherry, hibiscus, licorice, rose petals and slowly emerging earthy accents. The medium-bodied palate is bursting with perfumed, layered flavors. It’s framed by velvety tannins, and fireworks of fresh acidity drive a long, shimmery finish with latent spicy tones. It should be long lived in the cellar.
94 Points James Suckling
A powerful and elegant wine with aromas and flavors of fresh black cherries, raspberries, red licorice, black pepper, blood oranges, roses, violets and forest botanicals. The palate is dense but light, with structured layers of acidity, fine tannins and a finish of baking spice and cocoa powder.
94 Points Wine Spectator
Handsomely structured and silky in texture, with multilayered raspberry and guava flavors that are endowed with orange peel, cardamom and other dusky spices as this gathers length and breadth toward polished tannins.
94 Points Wine Enthusiast
An aromatic burst of cherry liqueur is soon joined by notes of loamy soil and spicy ginger. The wine's luxurious texture and silky tannins pair nicely with concentrated blackberry, black tea, and bittersweet dark chocolate flavors. The acidity here is brisk, providing a nice balance with the wine's restrained alcohol, tannins and fruit. This pleasurable wine makes you want to settle into your chair for a relaxing conversation.
Winemaker Note
The Haakon/Lenai Vineyard Pinot Noir shows elegant notes of pomegranate, cola, spicy tobacco, roasted dark cherry, blackcurrant, rhubarb, allspice, juniper berry and rose petal with fine tannins. Dry Farmed, & Organically farmed. Aged 11 Months in French Oak Barrels, 40% New.
