Showing beautifully, Brooks’ 2014 Rastaban is named after one of the stars in the Draco constellation, derived from an Arabic phrase “Rās al-Thu`bān, or head of the serpent. 2014 is a riper, lusher vintage than the 2011, the last I sampled under this label—this striking estate-grown Pinot Noir presents a broad sensory arc of ripe raspberries, roasted strawberry and black cherries, sweet tobacco, and exotic spice. It’s brooding, with a somewhat muscular frame. Earthy minerality and iron ore emerge on the finish. Sample
93 Points