Tried these new Drew Pinots over the last week's span:
1. Drew PinotNoir The FogEater AndersonVlly (13.4%) 2019: Med.light color; pretty bright cherry/PN/black cherry light pencilly/oak bit spicy attractive classic AlexVlly PN attractive nose; quite tart/tangy fairly strong bright/PN/cherry/spicy light pencilly/Fr.oak slight earthy pleasant AV PN flavor w/ light gentle tannins; long bright/cherry/PN/spicy/black cherry some pencilly/Fr.oak finish w/ light tannins;a bit on the simple side; a pleasant enough drinkable expression of AV PN but just that. $45.00
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2. Drew PinotNoir WendlingVnyd/AndersonVlly (13.0%) 2019: Med.color; much stronger cherry/PN/black cherry/black cherry cola/quite spicy slight earthy/dusty fairly toasty/Fr.oak bit perfumed bit complex classic AV PN nose; lightly tart/tangy some rich/lush strong black cherry/PN/black cherry cola rather spicy strong toasty/Fr.oak light earthy/dusty bit complex flavor w/ modest smooth tannins; very long/lingering fairly rich/lush bit tart/tangy strong black cherry/black cherry cola/PN/DrPepper/spicy strong toasty/oak bit complex finish w/ some smooth tannins; much more depth & intensity; pretty classic rich/lush AV PN that needs several yrs yet; bit on the pricey side for what it is. $70.00
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3. Drew PinotNoir Faite mer Farm Estate MendoRidge (12.8%; 45% whole-cluster; 5% new oak; Drk: 2021-2030: JD; http://www.DrewWines.com) Elk 2019: Dark color; very strong PN/black cherry/black cherry cola bit ripe/licorice strong toasty/Fr.oak/smokey fairly intense nose; rather tart/tangy very strong PN/black cherry/black cherry cola structured strong toasty/Fr.oak/smokey light earthy bit complex flavor w/ ample chewey tannins; very long/lingering intense black cherry/PN/black cherry cola/ripe pretty tart/tangy big/structured fairly toasty/smokey/oak finish w/ some chewey tannins; definitely needs some more yrs of age; a pretty big/intense PN for Drew; my easy favorite of this batch of Pinots; very fairly priced at $45.00
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4. Drew PinotNoir ValentiRanch/MendoRidge (13.0%; 100% neutral Fr.oak; Drk: 2021-2030: JD) 2019: Med.color; very strong toasty/pencilly/smokey/Fr.oak bit Burgundian fairly bright/cherry/PN/spicy bit earthy some complex nose; lightly tart bit earthy/Burgundian rather pencilly/Fr.oak strong cherry/PN/earthy/fairly bright some structured bit complex flavor w/ modest tangy tannins; very long/lingering light/bright/cherry/PN/spicy rather smokey/pencilly/oak some earthy/Burgundian bit complex finish w/some tannins; a bit on the lighter side but a fairly classic Drew PN at a fair price. $50.00
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5. Drew PinotNoir Estate Mid-Slope MendoRidge (13.5%) 2018: Med.color; strong black cherry/PN/black cherry cola strong toasty/smokey/Fr.oak bit earthy slight w-c/peppery bit more elegant/floral bit simpler nose; quite tart/tangy cherry/black cherry/PN fairly smokey/toasty/Fr.oak fairly bright quite pleasant bit simple PN flavor w/ light smooth tannins; very long fairly tart/tangy strong black cherry/PN/spicy/black cherry cola fairly toasty/oak finish w/ light smooth tannins; a quite pleasant distinctly MendoRidge PN but not all that profound; quite good but just that. $70.00
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6. Drew PinotNoir Estate Mid-Elevation MendoRidge (13.5%) 2019: Med.color; deeper black cherry/cherry/PN/black cherry cola lighter toasty/Fr.oak bit pungent licorice slight earthy bit complex nose; lightly tart/tangy fairly rich/lush strong cherry/black cherry/PN light earthy/dusty modest toasty/Fr.oak bit complex flavor w/ light smooth tannins; very long bright/cherry/PN/black cherry cola some toasty/Fr.oak bit softer/richer finish w/ light tannins; shows a bit more brighter cherry character w/ a bit more depth & richness; a very good MendoRidge PN at a very good price. $32.00
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A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. Drew is the wnry of Jason & Molly Drew up in Elk on the MendoRidge just a stone's throw from the Pacific. Probably the western-most vnyd in MendoCnty. Although their (scarce) Viognier & Albarino are two of my favorites, they produce mostly PinotNoir and a bit of Syrah. I continue to remain in their club simply because of their Syrahs, but their Pinots are nothing I'd throw out of bed.
They source their Pinots from both the AndersonVlly and the MendoRidge. I tend to prefer their Pinots from the MendoRidge because they tend to be a bit bigger & more structured. Of their MendoRidge Pinots (Valenti/Perli/Estate), I consistently prefer their Estate Pinots. Their Faite mer Farm is probably the best Drew Pinot I can recall.
That said, their Pinots all show a distinctive Drew winemaking style. I would only fault them for not being sufficiently distinctive one from the other; a bit of sameness to them. Side-by-side, they do show subtle differences, though. But they are always excellent Pinots.
Tom