Varietal:  Pinot Noir
Region:  California – USA
Cost:  Approx $10

Winemaker’s Notes:  Rich earthiness and bold robust flavors. Pairs well with full-flavored hearty meats, stews, and soups paired with rustic bread.

My Review:  You ever have one of those moments when you see a bottle of wine on your rack and have absolutely no idea where it came from? I had that moment last night with my wife when we were trying to decide which bottle of wine to open up with some chili we had made for dinner. I had no memory of the wine being purchased, was confident it wasn’t a sample that had been sent to me, and didn’t remember anybody bringing it over during one of our holiday parties, and it wasn’t until I sat down to write this review that I realized where it came from – my wife and I did buy it at a local store that was offering a free tasting. This is what age does to you.

In the glass, after spending some time in a decanter, the wine was a medium-light garnet color. It wasn’t super light, but I could still see the bottom of my glass with the wine in it. On the nose I got mostly cherry notes, though the wine didn’t have a big nose even after being allowed to open up in the decanter. In the mouth I got more of the cherry notes along with some cola on the finish and very subtle hint of effervescence. It paired well with the chili, the fruit flavor actually doing a good enough job with the chili, though I think something with a bit of spice might have been even better.

To sip on the wine after we were done eating was easy enough, and while the wine certainly didn’t blow me away, as budget Pinot Noir goes I’ve certainly had a lot worse. It didn’t set my world on fire, but if you happen across it and you’re in the market for a value Pinot Noir it’s definitely worth giving a second or third thought to.

Related posts:

1. Winfield Estate Proprietor’s Select Pinot Noir 2009
2. FlipFlop Pinot Noir 2009
3. Biltmore Reserve Pinot Noir 2009

Varietal:  100% Pinot Noir
Region:  Willamette Valley – Oregon – USA
Cost:  $22

Winemaker’s Notes:  The medium garnet color introduces a bright aroma of raspberry, cherry, and cedar with hints of pie spice, sandalwood, and dried cherry. On the palate it opens to ripe cherry, red and black raspberry, and mocha accents supported by a medium plus body and full, fine grained tannins. Pairs well with grilled meats, flavorful sauces, and rich farmhouse cheeses.

My Review:  This wasn’t the first time I’d had the 2009 Montinore Estate Reserve Pinot Noir, no that would have been some weeks ago at my local Fleming’s Steakhouse & Wine Bar where Mike, our favorite bartender there, convinced my wife and I to give it a try during a visit there for happy hour. We liked it so much I went online and ordered half a case of it.

The wine is a beautiful light garnet color in the glass and on the nose I got notes of raspberry and cedar that were welcoming and just invite you to take a sip. On the palate cherry, raspberry and earth notes with a touch of spice on the nice smooth finish make this an incredibly easy wine to just sip on. In addition, the wine has been certified biodynamic and organic, so if you’re looking to try a wine that has less of an impact on the environment, this is a great one.

I didn’t pair this wine with food last night, but I did have a bottle opened at my parents’ house for Thanksgiving dinner and it went quickly, going well with the spread my Mom had prepared, especially the turkey. If you want to try this wine, and I highly recommend it, and can’t find it at your local store, you can follow this link and have it shipped directly to you…just like I did. http://www.winezap.com/search/searchResults.cfm?r=181364

Related posts:

1. Biltmore Reserve Pinot Noir 2009
2. Winfield Estate Proprietor’s Select Pinot Noir 2009
3. FlipFlop Pinot Noir 2009

There are a lot of different wine sites out there giving suggestions on what you should be pouring during your Thanksgiving festivities. Since, however, it’s been fairly well established what varietals go well with the traditional Thanksgiving feast, I thought I would change it up and let you know what I’m pouring at dinner, or rather, what I’m taking up to my parents house to pour for the army-sized feast my mother will be cooking.

2009 Coastal Vines Pinot Noir – Sonoma, CA – $10

I picked up a pair of these at my local Richmond wine shop since it would have been irresponsible of me to not show up with some Pinot Noir. While there are plenty of wine sites that will be recommending $30 and $40 bottles, I don’t see the reason to break the bank when there are perfectly serviceable bottles under $20. I’ve never had this one before, so it will be interesting to try it out on Thursday.

2010 Ponga Pinot Noir – New Zealand – $14

I’ve had other Ponga varietals before (namely Sauvignon Blanc), so I’m holding out high hopes for this being a good value wine that over-performs for the price.

2010 Alamos Torrontes – Argentina – $13 (SRP) *

Much like the Ponga, I’ve had other wines from Alamos, so I’ll be interested to try this one. For those unfamiliar with Torrontes, the best approximation I can give, and the comparison I usually use, is Viognier. Given that I live in Virginia, and that I’m not bringing any Viognier myself (sorry VA Wine Marketing Board), it seems appropriate to bring something similar.

2009 Steininger Gruner Veltliner – Austria – $25

A few months back I received a case of summer white wines to try out, and of those my favorite was a Gruner Veltliner. I found it to be light, minerally, and refreshing. Since Gewurztraminer is a popular choice for Thanksgiving, I wanted to mix it up and try something a bit different though similar. As I’ve only had one Gruner (that I remember), I’ll be interested to see if this one is as enjoyable to me as the other one.

Freixenet Cordon Rosado – Spain – $12 (SRP) *

Rose’ in general has been finding its way more and more into my wine selection, as have sparkling wines. It’s only natural that they should combine. A blend of Trepat and Garnacha grapes, this wine will probably be a good selection before and during the dinner. I may use this bottle as a way to entice my parent’s neighbors that pretty much only drink bubbles to come over for a drink at some point in the evening.

2011 Christmas at Biltmore – California – $12 (SRP) *

This one will most likely get brought out for dessert, as one of the suggested pairings is pumpkin pie. A blend of Gewurztraminer, Muscat Canelli, Chenin Blanc, and Riesling, this wine has 4% residual sugar, so it’s definitely going to need something to either cut or compliment the sweetness.

2008 Foris Gewurztraminer – Oregon – $15

Since I was grabbing some Pinot Noir to bring, I of course had to bring some Gewurztraminer as well. I’m always a bit gun-shy around this particular grape, so I had my guy at my local wine shop show me to his driest Gewurztraminer. Hoping that this will go well with the feast my mom puts out.

Elyssia Pinot Noir Brut – Spain – $18 (SRP) *

A blend of Pinot Noir and Trepat (85%/15%), it will probably be a coin flip to see if this or the other sparkling rose’ makes it to the dinner table and which one gets opened up early for cocktails before dinner. I’m leaning towards dinner with this one though.

2009 Montinore Estate Reserve Pinot Noir – Oregon – $21

My wife and I actually bought half a case of this wine thanks to enjoying a glass of it so much at our local Flemings while there for happy hour. Since it’s rude to not share, I grabbed a bottle of this to throw into the selection that we’re taking up to Norther Virginia with us.

Hopefully you’ll all enjoy your Thanksgiving dinner and I hope you all have a safe Thanksgiving and have safe travels. If you feel like sharing what you’re pouring I’d certainly be interested to hear it.

Wines marked with a (*) were received as samples.

Related posts:

1. Thanksgiving Wine Pairing
2. Robert Mondavi Private Selection Pinot Noir 2010
3. 2011 Virginia Wine Expo

Varietal:  90% Pinot Noir; 6% Petite Sirah; 3% Syrah; 1% Merlot
Region:  California – USA
Cost:  $11 (SRP)

Winemaker’s Notes:  Reflecting the character of a cool vintage, which fostered the development of classic varietal aromas and flavors in our Pinot Noir grapes, this vivacious red wine’s hallmark is fresh, vibrant fruit. On the nose, lovely rose petal, violet, and red cherry aromas mingle with complementary scents of smoky vanilla and nutmeg. Very soft and round with good length and richness on the palate, the wine displays supple, silky berry and cherry jam flavors. Enjoy this delectable Pinot Noir with grilled salmon, herb-roasted chicken, baked ham, or lighter pork dishes.

My Review:  So remember yesterday when I talked about the bottle of 2007 Biltmore Blanc de Blancs exploding all over my kitchen? Well, since my wife and I were making salmon to go with that, and since exploding wine meant I was really going to need a drink, we decided to open up this bottle of 2010 Robert Mondavi Pinot Noir that I had received as a sample.

A light to medium red in the glass, with hints of some rust coloring, I got aromas of cherry and spice on the nose which lead into a very smooth, almost juicy wine with flavors of berry and a touch of a cola finish that I’m finding more and more on Pinot, and that I’m finding myself enjoying quite a bit.

Paired with the salmon the wines richness was a nice compliment to the fatty fish, making the entire meal just a wonderful, rich experience. For the price this was a surprisingly robust Pinot Noir, and if you’re looking for a budget wine to put out with your Thanksgiving dinner, this is certainly a good choice.

On the off chance you can’t find this wine in your local store, you can follow this link and get some shipped directly to you.

No related posts.

Varietal:  100% Pinot Noir
Region:  Chile – South America
Cost:  $7

Winemaker’s Notes:  This voluptuous Pinot Noir is full of rich aromas and flavours of cherry, plum, and strawberry, finished with a subtle spiciness. Balanced and New World styled, this is an elegant wine; the perfect partner for robust fish dishes, white meats, and pork.

My Review:  As a slight preview to this Thursday’s Wines of Chile Virtual Blogger Tasting, I decided to open up a bottle of Cono Sur Pinot Noir that I had picked up at Costco during a recent grocery trip. I’ve had Cono Sur wines during several blogger tastings and they tend to always make my list of the top wines for the tasting, and for the value I just couldn’t pass up trying this particular bottle.

The wine was a bit darker in the glass than I was expecting, though certainly not so dark as to make me question it’s Pinot Noir-ness. On the nose I got cherry and strawberry mostly, with the plum not really coming through until the palate, and even then it was very subtle, mostly hidden by the cherry and strawberry notes.

My wife and I paired the wine with a pizza and I have to say that the wine was enjoyable. I’d be lying if I said this was the best Pinot Noir I’ve ever had, hell, it wasn’t even the best Pinot I’ve had from Chile, but it was a great value, and it wasn’t bad by any stretch of the imagination, and I suspect that I’ll be grabbing another bottle of this the next time I come across it, as it’s better than most of the value Pinot Noirs I’ve come across in recent years.

If you can’t find this wine at your local store (I’ve seen it at multiple locations so I think they’re doing a good job of placing it on shelves), then you can follow this link and have some shipped directly to you. It’s a great value and probably an upgrade on most table wines.

Related posts:

1. FlipFlop Pinot Noir 2009
2. Pinot Evil Pinot Noir
3. Rodney Strong Pinot Noir 2008

Varietal:  100% Pinot Noir
Region:  Russian River Valley – California – USA
Cost:  $25 (SRP)

Winemaker’s Notes:  Cherry red color with aromas of cherry, raspberry, peppery spices, and a touch of oak. In the mouth an elegant to full body Pinot Noir with elegant balance and good depth. Pairs well with pork tenderloin, salmon, and filet mignon.

My Review:  I’ve had this wine sitting on my racks for a while, which is a bit weird since I usually don’t let Pinot last that long in my house. Regardless, last week on an evening the wife was out and I was home alone, I finally got around to opening up the bottle and I definitely regretted taking so long to get to it.

A medium-dark red color in the glass, aromas of raspberry, spice, and oak were the most noticeable to me, and on the first sip the raspberry and some cherry really came through. It wasn’t until I had finished cooking myself some dinner and paired the wine with it that I started to be really blown away.

For dinner I had cooked up a piece of salmon that I had covered in a mustard/lemon/herb mixture that while not fancy, at least added some nice flavor to it, and for a side dish I cooked up some pesto risotto since it just sounded good. Without food the wine was a good, quality, but somewhat unremarkable Pinot that I wouldn’t have told people to pass on, but that I don’t know that I would have rushed out to buy again over something else. With the food it was something else.

I don’t know if it was my particular way of cooking the food, the food in general, or something else, but when paired with the food, the wine went from good to great. All of the same raspberry, cherry, and spice notes were still there, but right at the finish there was added this mocha/espresso/coffee/chocolate note that I just found amazing. I couldn’t get enough of it. I wanted to make more food just to keep getting it.

Sadly the food, and the wine, were both gone after some time, but I can say that having had this experience, it makes me want to try the 2009 Biltmore Reserve Pinot Noir again to see if it was just what I cooked or if it’s something that I can replicate with other food pairings, because it was amazing.

If you can’t find the 2009 Biltmore Reserve Pinot Noir near you (and I haven’t seen it in my local store either), you can follow this link and have it shipped directly to you, which I recommend.

Related posts:

1. FlipFlop Pinot Noir 2009
2. Rodney Strong Pinot Noir 2008
3. Winfield Estate Proprietor’s Select Pinot Noir 2009

Rodney Strong Vineyards

George and April outside Rodney Strong

We started our day at Rodney Strong Vineyards, in no small part because I had enjoyed spending time with them during the Wine Bloggers Conference back in July and also because as a big name in the area we both figured it was as good a place to start as any.

I had reached out to the PR manager for Rodney Strong since we had met during the Bloggers Conference, and he was kind enough to spend some time showing my wife and I the vineyard, including their “winery within a winery” where they make some of their most amazing wines.

George with some Barrels behind him

After our tour we went back to the tasting room where one of their pourers, Leo (who I highly recommend seeing if you’re ever at Rodney Strong – the man knows his wine and the wines of all the best vineyards and restaurants in the area), lead us through a tasting of the Rodney Strong selection.

I won’t go over each one since they were all great, but there were a few that stood out for me. The first was actually the first wine we tasted, the 2010 Charlotte’s Home Sauvignon Blanc. Light, crisp, with a great blend of citrus and “green”, it’s a great wine and a great value at only $13.50. Perfect for the last few warm days we have left.

The 2009 Reserve Pinot Noir was so good I brought a bottle home with me (thanks Robert), with a great mix of fruit and earth with just a touch of cola. There are a lot of light, fruity Pinots out there, and there’s nothing wrong with those, but when I think of Pinot, it’s wine like this that I think of and part of me both looks forward to and dreads opening up the bottle I have. $40 might seem like a lot for some people, but trust me when I say this one is worth it.

The other big stand out, and the other bottle from Rodney Strong I brought home with me, was the 2008 Symmetry Red Meritage. A product of the “Winery within the Winery”, I had a chance to taste all the components of this wine and then the completed version at the Bloggers Conference and was impressed with it then. I continued to enjoy it so much I grabbed a bottle to bring back to Virginia with me.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignons as well, the Alexander’s Crown, the Rockaway, and the Brother’s Ridge. All three were very good, and it was interesting to taste the differences in each from different locations. They are a bit pricey ($75), but if you’re looking for a great Cabernet to really splurge on, there are worse choices out there for more money.

Thomas George Vineyard

Our second stop of the day, courtesy of recommendations from Leo and Robert, was Thomas George Vineyard. Like most of the vineyards we would visit that day, the predominant wines we would taste were Pinot Noir, which is certainly not a bad thing.

At Thomas George, the wine that really stuck out for me was the 2009 Russian River Pinot Noir ($40). With bright fruit both on the nose and in the mouth, with a good cherry flavor and some cola in the mouth, a flavor that I find myself liking more and more in my Pinot.

The other wine that’s worth mentioning was the 2008 Lancel Creek Pinot Noir ($55). This one was darker than the 2009 RRV Pinot, with more earth on the nose  and darker fruit in the mouth with a spice, slightly “footy” taste as well.

Arista Winery

George outside of Arista Winery

Next up was Arista Winery, which, like everywhere else we would visit that day, was a recommendation from Leo and Robert. The first wine we tasted is worth mentioning, the 2010 Mark David Winery Sauvignon Blanc ($36). Light citrus with peach and apricot and a touch of pith on the finish. This was a good Sauvignon Blanc with just enough body to it to let it stand up to heavier foods.

The 2009 Longbow Pinot Noir ($48) stood out to me due to a touch of smoke and a meatiness in the mouth that I found I really enjoyed. The 2009 Toboni Vineyard Pinot Noir ($58) had a chalky, earthy nose with tart fruit and a smooth finish with just a touch of minerality that I found intriguing.

The final wine we tried there was the 2009 Two Birds Pinot Noir ($68), an estate grown wine that was very smooth with great dark fruit.

Moshin Vineyards

Outside of Moshin

Moshin Vineyards had a great selection of wines, but given that there were so many, I find myself having to focus on the very best.

The 2008 Halo’s Hill Pinot Noir ($44) was great. My wife and I also tried the 2009, and if it can turn into the same thing as the 2008 Moshin should be proud. A nose of earth and spice with some leather and dark fruit in the mouth made this one a no-brainer to bring home with us.

The Whisper in the Dark ($38) is a Zinfandel Port with ruby color and raspberry flavors. This was excellent when paired with some chocolate. Both my wife and I were surprised by how much we enjoyed this wine.

The Moshin Potion #9 ($32) is a blend of Muscat, Sauvignon Blanc, and Gewurztraminer with a nose of citrus, grass, and petrol and honey in the mouth. It was sweet without being syrupy, which is something I try to avoid in my dessert wines. I’d love this with some pound cake, but as a general rule I don’t buy dessert wines since as a general rule I don’t eat desserts at home that call for them.

Iron Horse Vineyards

Oh the bubbles. Iron Horse makes more than bubbles, but when my wife and I saw their flight of bubbles on the tasting list, we jumped at it. There were quite a few good ones we got to taste, but these few jumped out. The 2007 Wedding Cuvee’ ($38) is a Blanc de Noir made with 88% Pinot and 12% Chardonnay. It was light, crisp, and dry with good flavors of strawberry.

The other that jumped out was the 1997 Joy ($179/magnum), which I honestly debated buying. 100% Chardonnay with a nose that I would expect from a bottle of Chardonnay, tiny bubbles, and light citrus flavors in the mouth that again reminded me of Chardonnay. This was a great wine and one that I’ll consider around the holidays for a party.

Red Car Wine

Our final stop of the day. A good selection of wines, but the two that really jumped out for me were the 2009 Boxcar Pinot Noir ($28) which was light with spice and earth on the nose and had a little pepper on the nose. This is a great value and my wife and I grabbed a bottle to enjoy on their patio before heading back to our hotel for the day.

The Fighter

The other wine that really jumped out was the 2007 “The Fight” Syrah. The winemaker is a big boxing fan, so each year this wine features a label with a boxer on it. The 2007 vintage is called “Knockout”. This wine was big and bold with great dark fruit and espresso ground flavors and just called out for some grilled meat.

One Down

So my wife and I survived our first day in wine country, and I have to say that anybody considering a visit to Russian River Valley would be happy to visit any or all of these vineyards. We had a great time, and I want to say thanks to everybody working at the tasting rooms for being so welcoming.

Related posts:

1. California Wine Country Day 1 – Napa Valley
2. California Wine Country Day 2 – Sonoma
3. Trinity Oaks Vineyards California Pinot Noir

Varietal:  100% Pinot Noir
Region:  Spain
Cost:  $13

Winemaker’s Notes:   Pale, bright raspberry pink, with an abundant, uninhibited mousse. Intense raspberry aromas, backed by strawberry and aniseed, and a hint of cherry caramel. Red berry flavours dominate the palate, complemented by strawberry, touches of peach, watermelon, and lemon. There is a lovely minerality which adds to the complexity, and just a hint of sweetness which will increase its versatility in both food pairings and when it will be drunk.

My Review:  My wife and I picked up this bottle at a local store after having dinner last week as the bottle looked interesting and we didn’t have any bubbles in the house, something we’re trying to do a better job of remedying. While neither of us was familiar with the maker, a Cava made with 100% Pinot Noir was intriguing so we bought and this past week, opened.

We both suspected the wine would be a rose’, but given the darkness of the bottle it wasn’t possible to know for certain until the first bit fell into the glasses. On the nose I got a the raspberry and strawberry, which I expected from a rose’. In the mouth I continued to get strawberry but it was more subtle. The actual bubbles were very small, to the point that once would almost think this a still wine that just happened to have a hint of effervescence to it.

We paired the wine with some seafood and while it wasn’t a bad pairing, I just honestly wasn’t a huge fan of this wine. There was nothing that was categorically “bad” about it, but I also know that for the price I can get a Cava that I will really enjoy, not one that’s just meh.

If you’re looking for a rose’ Cava to try out, I don’t think you’ll hate yourself for picking up this one, but neither do I feel like you’ll be missing anything if you pass it over in favor of another.

Related posts:

1. Rodney Strong Pinot Noir 2008
2. Mumm Napa Pinot Noir 2007
3. Louis Latour Pinot Noir

We were each greeted with a glass of the Santa Julia Rose NV ($13 SRP), made from 100% Pinot Noir. The wine was a deep pink in color with aromas of strawberry that I would expect. In the mouth were subtle fruit flavors which went well with the light bubbles in the wine. All in all, a great way to start the lunch.

Our first course was a selection of Zuccardi Olive Oils with some fresh baked bread and Beef Empanadas, which had some hard-boiled egg in them, which I found to be absolutely brilliant. To pair with this we had a 2010 Santa Julia [+] Torrontes and a 2010 Santa Julia [+] Malbec ($10 SRP for both). The Torrontes had nice floral notes on the nose, and a slight sweet finish that was a nice counter note to the subtle spice of the empanadas. The Malbec was jammy and fruit forward, with dark fruit on the nose. 

The second course featured a home made goat ricotta cheese served over Shiacciata l’uva bread with raisins and fresh grapes and touch of olive oil. The ricotta and the olive oil gave this amazing combination of sweet and savory, and when you added in the tang of the raisins and grapes, the whole combination was savory and sweet in the mouth all at once and just great. Paired with this we tasted a 2010 Santa Julia Organica Chardonnay ($11 SRP). The Chardonnay offered up tropical notes on the nose with a robustness in the mouth that made me think it had spent time in oak barrels, which it hadn’t.

The third and main course was a beefsteak with crunchy potatoes and chimichurri. I want to start by saying that the chimichurri had some kick to it, with a heat that lingered in your mouth – not to say it wasn’t good, but it wasn’t something I was ready for and it kicked on the first bite. The steaks were cooked to perfection, and the crunchy potato cake was a nice textural difference from the steak. To pair with this we had two red wine selections – a 2009 Santa Julia Reserva Malbec and a 2009 Santa Julia Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon ($12 SRP for both). Both wines were a nice dark color, with the Malbec show aromas of dark fruit and tobacco with a smooth feel in the mouth. The Cabernet Sauvignon showed some of the same aromas as the Malbec, cherry, dark fruit, tobacco, and some leather, but was more full-bodied in the mouth, which is why of the two, I enjoyed it with the steak better.

The final course, the dessert course, was nothing short of amazing. We were served a Mendocinean puff pastry which was a crispy handmade puff pastry covered in a handmade dulce de leche in layers (think baklava), that we then ate with our hands. The pastry was sweet, but not overly sweet, and when paired with a 2009 Santa Julia Tardio ($13 SRP 500ml) it was a great finish to our lunch.

So, my take-aways from this lunch. While I already knew Argentina was making some great wines, this just confirmed it even more. What I really appreciate is that they’re creating amazing wines at great prices, making them accessible to everyone. Santa Julia and the Zuccardi Family in general have done an amazing job of making wines that I think are perfect for this time of year – they just cry out to be shared with family and friends over a warm weekend in the backyard.

I want to thank our chef, Ana Soledad Rodriguez Armisen and Julia Zuccardi (the namesake of the wines) for an amazing lunch, as well as the Culinaria Cooking School and their amazing staff for letting us use their space – if you’re looking to take a cooking class, I definitely recommend going there.

Related posts:

1. Santa Cristina Sangiovese 2007
2. Virginia Wine Tasting
3. Santa Monica Tierra de Sol Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Varietal: 100% Pinot Noir
Region: Oregon – USA
Cost: $20

My Review: I’m never one to turn away a sample bottle of Pinot Noir, but I was intrigued when the Good Works Wine Club asked if I would review a few bottles for them. I’ve been seeing a trend in wine and charity going hand in hand, and it’s a trend I’m enjoying. I won’t lie and say I’m the most charitable person in the world, but if I can combine charity with something that I do enjoy, like say wine, well then we can talk.

The Good Works Wine Club is a wine club with no membership fees. When you sign up, you will be asked to choose a non-profit, they have a list to choose from or you can request to add another, and 20% of your purchase price will be donated to that non-profit. That alone should have people rushing to sign up and order wine as there’s some really good causes already listed on the site.

As for the wine. I have three bottles to sample, but I naturally started with the 2009 Pinot Noir because, as I’ve stated, I love Pinot. The wine was light in the glass, and on the nose I got notes of cherry and cola. In the mouth this was a more fruit-forward Pinot Noir, with the cherry and cola carrying over from the nose to the palate. A bit of tartness on the finish was a good finishing note, especially considering how light the wine was. Paired with a dinner of pizza (half pepperoni, half fresh basil and mozzarella), it was a great table wine, and a good red wine as we move into the warmer months – nice and light.

Starting off with the 2009 Winfield Estate Proprietor’s Select Pinot Noir has made me look forward to the other two bottles I was sent (a Syrah and a Pinot Gris), and if for no other reason than there are some really good non-profit organizations that are always in need of help, it’s worth ordering at least one bottle. The 2009 Pinot Noir isn’t going to blow your mind, but it’s also not going to disappoint or make you regret having spent the $20 on it. Give it a try and do some charity work at the same time.

Related posts:

1. FlipFlop Pinot Noir 2009
2. Rodney Strong Pinot Noir 2008
3. Mumm Napa Pinot Noir 2007