Closson Chase Churchside Pinot Noir 2021

The 2021 Churchside pinot stays in the vein of savoury, earthy, and dark fruited as it has in previous editions, with a slightly lifted nose and sour fruit edge. The palate shows a combination of raspy tannins and firm acids, giving it a more rustic feel than Closson’s South Clos pinot (tasted here side by side), though of course we’re still talking PEC and its generally lighter and more delicate pinots. I like the succulence and the saliva-inducing quality; wood is well integrated, though I’d suggest another year in bottle to polish it further. You might call this the more muscular of the pair, vs the greater finesse of the South Clos. Both are excellent. Tasted September 2023. Score – 92. (John Szabo, MS, winealign.com)