Thomas Fogarty Pinot Noir Henry Ayrton’s Block Rapley Trail 2021

97 Points, Vinous
The 2021 Pinot Noir Rapley Trail Vineyard Henry Ayrton’s Block is a statuesque, towering beauty. Sweet red cherry, mint and cinnamon, wild flowers and anise all soar out of the glass. This majestic, soaring Pinot Noir has it all, yet nothing stands out, as all the elements are so impeccably balanced. What a knockout. Sadly, there are just 75 cases to go around.

96 Points, Wine Enthusiast
Dark and intense aromas of black cherry and loamy soil meet with pestle-round spices like cardamom, mace and dried ginger on the nose of this wine. It’s a small-batch bottling of the Martini clone from a half-acre block planted 40 years ago, 1,500 feet high in the mountains. The palate is clean, expressive and quite rich, offering cherry compote, boysenberry pie, cracked pepper and spice-cake flavors that go on forever.

95 Points, Parker’s Wine Advocate
The 2021 Pinot Noir Rapley Trail Vineyard Henry Ayrton’s Block is a sublime example of the Fogarty estate. The nose instantly fires on all cylinders, displaying multifaceted yet nuanced aromas of wet moss, balsa wood, blue fruits and dried spices. The palate takes the weightless intensity of the James Thomas’s Block a step further, floating on the palate with an effortless, airy succulence. The finish is long and layered with powdery, fine tannins, refined acidity and echoes of its aromatic complexity. This should provide immense enjoyment for 10-15 years and could prove the longest-lived wine in the Fogarty lineup.