According to the winery, Goldeneye’s Gowen Creek Vineyard, located in the “heart” of the Anderson Valley, showcases mixed terroir, featuring elements from the valley’s warmer regions and its cooler, Northern “deep end.” The Southwestern exposure allows for a wide array of vineyard blocks planted with specific clones of Pinot Noir ideal to each site and soil type.
About the Wine: The Goldeneye 2016 Gowan Vineyard Pinot Noir is made from 100% Pinot Noir grapes harvested from Goldeneye’s Gowan Vineyard, located in California’s Anderson Valley AVA. The wine was aged in 100% French oak barrels (65% new, 35% neutral) for 16 months.
14.5% ABV
Flavor Profile: Open the bottle of the Goldeneye 2016 Gowan Vineyard Pinot Noir and breathe in scents of chocolate, oak wood, and bonfire flames. This Pinot Noir presents a nice, light, luminescent red on the pour. In the glass it’s a darker maroon at it’s core (though you can see right through it), fading out to a pretty pink-rouge along the perimeter.
Initial aromas are of black cherry, dried red roses, and foggy midnight air. Swirl and release floral aromas. Indeed the nose becomes very perfumey, but an aged, elegant perfume scent. The fruits are very subtle on the nose but include black cherry with hints of pomegranate.
The palate of the Goldeneye 2016 Gowan Vineyard Pinot Noir is light with a delicate texture and a solid acidity that leads to a simultaneously tart (with bing cherry, pomegranate, and fresh wild strawberry flavors) and an almost tannic, dry finish (solely around the perimeter of the tongue). Other flavors include oak, bramble, and sea salt air. As the wine opens up the body becomes fuller, smokier elements begin to come through, and spices like cinnamon and clove become more present on the breath.
Food Pairing: I paired the Goldeneye 2016 Gowan Vineyard Pinot Noir with a simple salmon salad. What I loved was the simplicity of this meal did well to showcase how this Pinot Noir truly develops in complexity over the course of the evening—both in flavor and texture. I will also note that the balsamic dressing very much complemented the wine, as did the pops of fresh herbs in the salad greens. Meanwhile the oiliness of the salmon as well as its natural salts further smoothed the texture and overall mouthfeel of the wine.
More Info: I received the Goldeneye 2016 Gowan Vineyard Pinot Noiras a sample for review. (Cheers, Kristy!) Price: $84. For more information about Goldeneye, their wines, and to purchase wine directly, please visit the Goldeneye Winery website.
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