2001 Goldeneye Anderson Valley Pinot Noir

[dananne]

You know, Foodie, I like my Pinots with some earth, too -- at least enough to ground (pun intended) the fruit. I look for and like the more feminine, delicate side of the grape that shows clean fruit, a willowy texture, some forest floor/pine needles, and an earthy/mushrooomy note that is complimentary. A small amount of barnyard is OK, too, so long as it is in the background. I have no idea what makes this all-fruit style distinct (unless their distinctiveness is derived, in fact, from the absence of earth), nor why they are so expensive. The cherry/berry fruit is usually there in some of these that I've worked through lately, and I'm guessing the clove component is from aging in new oak for some time. Part of me would like to say that, with some age, the earth tones will come out, but from my experience that isn't really the case -- a fruit bomb when young is a fruit bomb with age (or, worse yet -- an aged wine with no fruit left, leaving an empty cupboard).