This is Forge’s best “Classique” Pinot Noir to date. Soft, open-knit, with lots of oak influence and very good fruit to match, this is an easy-drinking style of Pinot Noir that should have many fans. The style is a fine prototype for Forge’s “Classique” label. With a bit more structure & finer tannins, this wine would have hit the “Very Good+” mark squarely.
The Forge Cellars “Classique” Pinot Noir (Finger Lakes, NY) 2015 $26 [Very Good to Very Good+] is medium ruby garnet in color. The aromas are heavily influenced by oak, with scents of smoke, brown spice, toast, and charcoal. Fortunately, there is a good deal of red and black fruit too, as well as a stony mineral note which adds complexity. Medium bodied, soft and open-knit, with light gritty tannin, balance is good. Flavors of ripe strawberry, black berries, red currant, smoke, spice, toast and stony mineral have very good concentration — and a fair amount of complexity. The finish shows very good persistence of flavor, lots of spice (brown & peppery), with very good length. May 2017
