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Specs:
2005 Keller Estate La Cruz Pinot Noir
Sonoma CoastPetaluma, Ca
14.1% Alcohol
100% Pinot Noir
http://www.kellerestate.com/
$42.00
Notes:
This wine is the perfect example of the reason I'm head over heels in love with Pinot Noir from this region. Because of the maritime influence from the ocean, these grapes don't have the uber ripe cherry flavor you get from warmer climates. The flavors are tart, young and fresh.
This wine's ruby red clarity and dark intensity sit perfectly in the glass. The aroma is not as intense as expected however the scents are well defined and clear with black cherry, oak, vanilla, baking spice and white pepper on on the forefront. The wine is rich luscious and smooth with flavors of ripe red cherry, cola, vanilla, oak and raspberry. The finish is substantial in flavor with a light smokey and fruity end. This quality producer has definitely hooked me and I truly look forward to sampling their other vintages and varietals.
This wine is light enough in body that it can be paired with a variety of foods and flavors. Smoked ham and barbecued red meats would be a great match for this wine. However, when it comes to Pinot Noir I personally don't like to complicate things. I prefer keeping it as the main event.
Specs:
2007 Prinz Spätburgunder Trocken
Rheingau
Germany
13.5% Alcohol
100% Pinot Noir
$29.00
Notes:
In continuation of my world wide quest for Pinot Noir I came across this German producer while dining at Terzo Restaurant in San Francisco. When I think Germany and the Rheingau my first thought is Riesling...it definitely isn't Pinot Noir; however I was proven quite wrong with this developed food friendly wine. The Prinz Spätburgunder (German for Pinot Noir) pronounced SHPAYT-bur-GUHN-der had similar characteristics of the grape variety, however there were some interesting qualities that stood out from others I have tasted.
When first poured, the wine was pale and lacking the color I was expecting, yet with time the wine opened up and regained its garnet color I am accustomed to.The aromas are light in intensity with pronounced earthy scents and slight hints of fruit. On the nose are scents of mushroom, herbs, and forest floor with tart strawberry and red cherry . The taste on the palate mimics the nose however the fruit becomes more apparent on the tongue. Within 20 minutes of opening the bottle the flavors and complexity of this wine really began to show and the acidic qualities began to really mellow out. With this came a more round and silky mouthfeel with rich flavors of red fruit and earth.
The Prinz Spätburgunder paired really amazingly with food due to its light flavors and intensity. I would suggest matching this wine with dishes containing fresh mushrooms and tomato as well as pastas or salads with truffle oil and Parmesan. This may be a little hard to find in your local wine shop however it is available locally at Terzo Restaurant as well as Dee VineWines in San Francisco.
Specs:
2005 Domaine Gerard Seguin Gevrey-Chambertin, Vieilles Vignes
Gevrey-Chambertin (
Côte d'Nuits)
France
13% Alcohol
100% Pinot Noir
$39.00
Notes:
Pinot Noir from the Côte d'Nuits region of France's Burgundy have quickly become my go to wines. The wines coming from the Gevrey-Chambertin commune of this region have yet to let me down. Yes... They are on the pricey side, however, you pay for quality and this Pinot Noir is just that. Gevrey-Chambertin's Burgundies are known worldwide for their complexity as well as for their production of quality Grand Cru wines.
In the glass, the wine is a clear, deep, crimson color with primary aromas of leather and earth, and hints of ripe strawberry and cherry. There is also a woody component to the nose with baking spice, accents of clove and cinammon. In the mouth, it is smooth and silky yet still light. With the red fruit flavors on the forefront, the earthiness becomes more apparent on the palate and the leather and wood finish it off. There is a spicy characteristic to the wine that really balances out the lush fruit along with the mineralistic and acidic qualities adding some complexity. The finish is medium in length ending with a cigar box flavor on the tongue.
Because this Pinot Noir is so light and feminine you would want to pair it with dishes that match its body. Cured meats like salumi and pancetta , grilled low fat meats, and steak tartare would really compliment one another. As far as dessert goes I would suggest this wine as the dessert in itself.
Specs:
2006 Domaine Jean-Paul/Stephane Magnien Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru "Sentiers"
Chambolle-Musigny (Côte-d'Or)
France
13.5% Alcohol
100% Pinot Noir
$54.00
Notes:
Burgundy's are quickly becoming my go-to wines for special occasions, important dinners and well, any other night really. The complexity and flavors that come from Frances Burgundy region are like nothing you have experienced. This wine comes from Côte-d'Or's village of Chambolle-Musigny. This area is known for their high quality Pinot Noir that can usually be characterized as rich, silky if you know your producer. The key to all French wines is just that. Know your producer.
This wine's producer is labeled as Premier or (1er Cru) so you know you are getting a good quality wine off the bat. In the glass the wine is clear with medium intensity and shows garnet hues with some brick coloring around the edges. The aromas are clean and developed with cola, red cherry, baking spice and vanilla scents. The intensity on the nose is moderate and in no way overpowering. On the palate the wine has medium plus acid and moderate tannins and is nicely balanced in the mouth with flavors of cola, cherry, red raspberry and cigar box. The flavors are bright, fresh and beautifully present with a medium silky smooth finish.
Seeing as this is a high quality burgundy with some good acid and present tannins this wine can definitely be cellared for some additional time; perhaps 5-10 years. As far as pairings go; this would pair beautifully with beef stews, oven roasted chicken, mushroom dishes, as well as creamy cheeses like Brie and Epoisses. For dessert, hearty raspberry tarts or strawberry pie would compliment the fruit in the wine nicely. I would suggest buying two bottles... One to drink now and one to cellar. This can be purchased locally through K & L Wine Merchants.
Specs:
2007 Williams Selyem Westside Road Neighbors Pinot Noir
Russian River ValleyCalifornia
13.8 % Alcohol
100% Pinot Noir
http://www.williamsselyem.com/
$103.00
Notes:
This is the kind of wine that can change what you had previously thought wine could taste like. This is obviously not your everyday wine, however if it were I think I may be a different person; not a care in the world.
Williams Selyem is arguably one of the best Pinot Noir producers in the Russian River Valley, some would say in California. Having not tried every Pinot produced in California (unfortunately) I can safely say they are surely in the running. This is by far one of the best Pinots I have ever had the pleasure of tasting. The grapes used to make this wine were pulled from some of the best producers in the valley on Russian River's famous Westide Road. The winemaker credits these luscious grapes for the outcome of this quality wine.
In the glass the wine is a beautiful garnet red; medium in intensity but bright and clear. On the nose is ripe red cherry, blackberry,clove and rich oak. On the palate this wine is stunning and rich with flavor. Silky and velvety in the mouth with red and black cherry, strawberry, blackberry, clove, cola and oak. The tannins are round and subtle and are balanced beautifully with the oak. The finish is relatively long with the lingering of fruit and and oak and the back of the palate. All I can say is this wine is so smooth that all you can taste is the wine, as you should. Nothing is in the way. You can tell the winemaker took such gentle care in producing this Pinot Noir and it definitely does show the amazing complexity of the wine that can come out of this region. My advice: splurge and get lost in this wine.
Specs:
2006 Domaine Ecard Savigny Les Beaune 1er Cru "Les Serpentieres"
BurgundyFrance
13% Alcohol
100% Pinot Noir
$39.99
Notes:
I'm am usually a faithful California Pinot lover however, a new friend argued that nothing compares to a French Burgundy. After arguing our top points we came to the "to each their own" conclusion. This little debate compelled me to go out and buy only my 3rd or 4th Burgundy as a way of further proving my point. Much to my dismay when tasting this wine I had to admit...Maybe he had something here.
In the glass the wine is medium in intensity with a rich deep garnet color. The aromas are some of the things you would expect from a Pinot Noir; notes of black cherry, strawberry, currant, hints of oak. What I wasn't expecting was the mineral smell; rust and metal were definitely present but not in a bad way. This out of the ordinary scent helped to cut the intense fruit and oak smell you would anticipate. It was a different quality that definitely let me know this was no New World Pinot.
On the palate the wine is smooth and fruity with mineral flavors on the finish. All the aromas previously found are in the taste of this wine, yet richer and more refined. Ripe black cherry, currant and rust are the main flavor components. The finish is medium in length and is quite enjoyable with hints of earth and minerality.
This well balanced wine can be paired well with many meals because of its mellow fruity flavors. Lean meats, light pasta dishes and desserts like strawberry short cakes would be my first instinct. This wine is hard to find online however I was able to pick up this beautiful french offering at my local BevMo.
Specs:
2006 WillaKenzie Estate Pierre Leon Pinot Noir
Willamette Valley
Yahill, Oregon
14.2 % Alcohol
100% Pinot Noir
http://www.willakenzie.com/
$38.00
Notes:
Like the Russian River and Carneros Valleys in California; Oregon's Willamette Valley is the perfect climate for Pinot Noir. This Estate exclusively grows Pinot Noir and does it beautifully. Their current releases to the public include 13 Pinot Noirs and 3 Pinot Gris. Their Pierre Leon offering definitely stood out at our table. The color of this wine is deep and rich with black cherry and garnet hues. We sat and admired just how beautiful this wine truly is.
The scent of this wine is very rich and typical of Pinot Noir: Cherry, Vanilla, and Oak. The taste of course is also that, however the flavors go much deeper than that. Black Fruits such as current and black cherry are on the forefront of flavor with some subtle spiciness of nutmeg and a rich oak aftertaste. Hints of vanilla are present but in no way as pronounced as you would find with a California Pinot. The sips are soft, silky and smooth and the prefect medium bodied wine to enjoy with your meal.
I would suggest pairing this wine with hearty meats like steaks and briskets or wild game such as quail or duck. Seasonal favorites like butternut squash ravioli with hints of cinnamon and nutmeg would also pair extremely well.
C. Donatiello Winery
Russian River Valley Healdsburg, California
The wine produced at this estate beautifully captures the essence of the Russian River Valley. You will only find Pinot Noir and Chardonnay at this Boutique Winery, however you would be hard pressed to find a better taste of my two favorite varietals anywhere in Healdsburg. The wines produced here are extremely unique. The flavors are powerful, bold and unlike many wines I have tasted. The taste is in no way diluted however pure, fresh and saturated.
As far as their Current Offerings there are 6 Chardonnays and 4 Pinot Noirs. Many of you are thinking 6 Chardonnays? Is that necessary? If you have visited C. Donatiello you know the answer is Yes. Tastings here are offered in Flights with very generous pours. Once you have these Chardonnays lined up one after the other you get the sense of how dramatically location of the vines, soil, climate and age really do effect wine. From the slight oakiness of the 2006 Russian River Valley Chardonnay to the crisp fruit forward 2007 Orsi Vineyard Chardonnay the taste profiles are endless. There is something here for anyone. Chard Lovers and Non Lovers alike.
Now onto the star of this Winery; Pinot Noir. The Pinot produced at this estate is Perfection. Silky, Fruity, Supple and Luxurious. Any Pinot Lover must travel here to taste this beautiful selection. Also available in flights you are able to sample all they have to offer. My personal Favorite is the 2007 Floodgate Pinot Noir Block 15. Bright Rich Red Fruits are on the nose and palette. Sweet and Velvety with a long satisfying finish. This is the essence of Pinot Noir. The other offerings are just as impressive with variations on flavor. Some more earthy and spicy, others bolder and toasty.
This estate is a special place nestled amongst trees and is comfortable and welcoming with skilfully manicured gardens. It is a great place to escape and relax with your selected flight on their outdoor patio. There is no rush here. Relax, listen to the fountain and gaze into the vineyards of Westside Road.
Wines range from $24-62
http://www.cdonatiello.com/
Specs:
2007 Eola Hills Pinot Noir
Willamette Valley
Rickreall, Oregon
13.6 % Alcohol
100% Pinot Noir
http://www.eolahillswinery.com
$13.95
Notes:
Friends of this blog have been requesting a bold Pinot Noir without the sticker shock that usually comes with it. This Willamette Valley Pinot delivers in all sense of this bargain bottle price. The bouquet is bright and fresh and the color was a rich ruby red. I first tasted this Pinot Noir with no information whatsoever. Upon first taste I was instantly impressed. We all sat shaking our heads in unison which is usually tough for this group. This is definitely a young wine and tastes of one. I absolutely love the freshness of young wines and I especially enjoyed the taste of crisp fresh picked strawberries and rich dark cherry that came with it. Vanilla also lingers on the palette as well as some very earthy flavors even a hint of mushroom. This wine is silky smooth and extremely light. The bottle disappeared before our very eyes...
Since this wine is so mild I can see it easily paired with a wide range of food. Serving it with something hearty like a pasta dish or prime rib would seem the most natural fit for this Pinot. For the price of this bottle you can not go wrong. I would highly recommend it to those looking to impress family and friends without spending a fortune.
Specs:
2006 Kent Rasmussen Pinot Noir
Carneros Valley California
13% Alcohol
100% Pinot Noir
http://kentrasmussenwinery.com/
$38.00
Notes:In my opinion this wine comes from one of the best Pinot Noir producing areas in California; the other being its neighbor, the Russian River Valley. Kent Rasmussen has been making wine and perfecting this varietal in Carneros since 1879 and it definitely shows in the depth of this wine. When poured the color is a rich garnet red with vanilla, dark cherry, light oak and cinnamon on the nose. This is an extremely fruit forward wine. The taste of black cherry and vanilla linger on the palette throughout the tasting experience. This wine is smooth as silk and I prefer to drink it completely on it's own and worship every drop. All you need to enjoy this wine is good company. If you just have to drink this with food I have paired it with barbecued ribs and a light salad. I wouldn't suggest anything too heavy. I find myself bringing up this wine in numerous conversations. Anyone who says they are looking for a good Pinot Noir at a descent price; this is a true treat. The availability of this wine is limited however you can find it online at various Internet retailers and at select BevMos. Do yourself a favor and just buy 2...You'll need the extra.
