🏰 The 2019 DuMOL Joy Road Vineyard Pinot Noir hails from high-elevation coastal vineyards in west Sonoma County, a vintage that perfectly translated the beauty of this unique area, offering concentration and intensity with thrilling freshness and an ethereal weightlessness. Winemaker Andy Smith utilized 30% whole clusters during fermentation, an ancient method that enhanced the wine's character. This vintage is noted for its emphasis on freshness and energy, a stylistic shift for DuMOL compared to a decade ago when wines were more opulent and oaky. The wine is described as having a head-turning perfume and a satiny, enveloping texture. 【 93 points from Vinous 】 🍴 This Pinot Noir, with its crunchy red fruits like cranberry and pomegranate, candied cherries, and notes of orange zest, pine needle, and white pepper spice, pairs wonderfully with duck, goose, and other game birds. 🥂 Its ebullience and sheer deliciousness make it an ideal wine to open first for any celebratory gathering or a sophisticated dinner party.