One of the most intriguing comparisons I’ve had on my Napa trip was to taste side by side the vintage variation at Hyde for their Pinot Noirs. The 2012 showed hints of a much warmer, more generous year in terms of climate. Well layered red fruits, underpinned by a backbone of dried spices and even hints of spice.
The 2014 by contrast, tasted much more like a youthful, red-fruit led zinger of a Pinot. Now of course, there is two years more in the bottle for the elder brother, but when you also bear in mind there was a 0.8% alcohol difference in the wines we tasted (14.9 for the 2012 versus 14.1 for the 2014) it just goes to show how much Hyde is willing to bear all and represent their fruit faithfully in the bottle.
Which one would I take? The 2012.
