Review: Goldeneye 2014 Confluence Vineyard Pinot Noir Anderson Valley ($84)

Goldeneye makes some of the most opulent, fine, and yes, expensive Pinot Noirs from Anderson Valley in Mendocino County, a region that has been quietly cranking out much of the North Coast's finest Pinot Noir and Chardonnay over the past two decades. This single vineyard wine from the Confluence Vineyard in the heart of Anderson Valley where the winery itself is located has deep berry fruit and is sweet and sour on the palate with an amalgam of conifer, soil, clove and gamy notes that give it a slightly wild, untamed quality. I mean that in the best possible way, too, in that as much as the wine is easily recognized as Pinot, it has tons of personality, making it easily distinguishable from run-of-the-mill Pinot Noir. And that's exactly what makes some wines worth a lot more money than others. (94 Points)