The 2010 Pinot Noir Silver Belt Cuvee Natalie is a pretty, aromatic wine endowed with gorgeous lift and a gracious personality, with none of the wilder notes found in the Kistler Vineyard. The Cuvee Natalie is quite delicate, at times even a bit frail, but it nevertheless impresses with its superb purity and fine overall balance. There is a sense of energy in the Cuvee Natalie that is highly appealing. My impression is that the Cuvee Natalie is not built for the long haul, but it will drink nicely for at least the next few years. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2020.
It is always a pleasure to visit with Steve Kistler and his partner Mark Bixler. The 2011s and 2010s are excellent across the board, although I currently have a preference for the 2011s. Vintage 2011 is shaping up beautifully, for both the Chardonnays and Pinots. As was the case throughout the region, the season was cool and slow to develop. The 2011s were picked at lower sugars than is the norm here, but very much in keeping with the personality of the year. Steve Kistler commented that a poor set in 2011 resulted in their lowest crop loads in years. Like a lot of his colleagues, Kistler noted that the experiences of 2010 had a huge positive impact on how he responded to similar challenges in 2011. The 2010 Chardonnays are beautiful across the board. Although solid, the 2010 Pinots aren’t quite at the level of the superb 2009s and I expect, ultimately, the 2011s. It was a tough vintage for the Pinots. Yields were mercilessly low. Sadly, there is no Cuvee Elizabeth, as the little fruit that came in went into the Kistler Vineyard bottling.
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