1996 Mills Mt. Harlan Pinot Noir

Similar to the 1994 in its briar-ness, this 1996 simply adds a mild chili pepper and a handful of blueberries to the aroma. Darker in color and deeper in flavor, this younger brother is different by its heft, hinting toward a long future ahead. Blackberry and black pepper flavors ask nicely for a menu with venison. The finish just keeps going and going with those berries, a dose of limestone minerality and persistent tannins. Very thought-provoking!

1997 Reed Vineyard Mt. Harlan Pinot Noir

This is a fabulous pinot: intense yet nuanced, powerful while at the same time showing great harmony and balance. The tannins in all our ’97 single-vineyard pinots are much softer than in most of our other vintages, making this wine, the three other single-vineyard pinots, and especially the ’97 Mélange Mt. Harlan Pinot, smoother than the norm at their current age of just over 4 years.

2000 Mills Mt. Harlan Pinot Noir

The great Robert Parker tasted this wine in April, 2003, and described it Nov. 10, 2003 on RobertParker.com as follows: "Low yields of 1.1 ton of fruit per acre (16.5 hectoliters of wine per hectare of vineyard) result-ed in a medium ruby-colored Pinot offering a big, sweet nose of straw-berries, cherries, spice box, and cloves. Medium to full-bodied, with moderate tannin, this pure, earthy, concentrated effort needs another 1-2 years of cellaring. It should drink well for 10-15 years. 90+ points." WineSkinny.com on Nov. 22, 2004, described it thusly: "Mocha-scented blueberry and ripe cherry flavors, pick up allspice and a dash of funky earth. Dusty tannins are offset by a nice, bright acidity and lengthy fin-ish. Ready to drink now and over the next five or six years."

2001 Mills Mt. Harlan Pinot Noir

From Wine Spectator of July 31, 2005: "An alluring style that combines ripe, firm black cherry and sour cherry fruit with a mix of spices, giving it a touch of nutmeg and hazelnut. Tannins are firm on the finish, giving it an excellent structure. Drink now through 2011. 91 points." And WineSkinny.com, Aug.- Sept. 2005: "Rich ribbons of flavors include focused black cherry, blackberry, allspice, sweet earth, roasted nuts, and nicely integrated toasty oak. Continues to evolve through the long, lush finish. Ready to drink now and over the next five or six years."

2002 Mills Mt. Harlan Pinot Noir

The 2002 Mills is a forward and aromatic wine. Notes of ripe strawberries, black plums, black pepper and vanilla are prevalent in both aroma and flavor. As is characteristic of Pinot Noir from the Mills Vineyard this wine has excellent structure with a core of well defined tannin under its fleshy, velvety texture.