94 points Vinous

Black cherry, plum, cloves, smoke, new leather and licorice meld together in the 2012 Pinot Noir. Ample, rich and dramatic in the glass, the 2012 is all about power and intensity. This explosive Pinot from volcanic soils is explosive from start to finish. The 2012 was aged in 60% new oak, all of which it handled with grace. 94+ points. ohn and Lorraine Alban have done a magnificent job with their 2012s. I tasted both wines just after they had been bottled, but that did not seem to be too much of an issue. The 2012 Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are both terrific, but perhaps more importantly, they represent a significant step up from the 2011s, which suggests North has a bright future. Readers should expect ripe, textured wines built on volume and resonance. (AG)(7/2014)