Varietal: Pinot Noir
Region: California – USA
Cost: $10
Deep garnet coloring with a slight floral aroma. Smooth on the palate with flavors of ripe fruit. Pair with pasta, steak, or well seasoned salmon.
Recommondations: I picked this up because it’s from California and my wife and I are going to California on vacation in just a few days. I’ve had Smoking Loon wines before, but had yet to try their Pinot Noir. The color on it was very nice – not too dark, but certainly not light. The aromas were mostly alcohol, but I did get a bit of a floral scent coming through. The flavors were smooth, with fruit flavors being the most prominent, though certainly not overwhelming in the way that some California reds can be, and lead into alcohol finish.
Paired with a meal of pasta bolognese, the alcohol on this medium-bodied wine wasn’t quite as overwhelming as it could have been, but it was still noticeable. While I certainly didn’t dislike this wine, I found that it wasn’t as enjoyable as the Mirassou Pinot Noir (also from California) that costs just about the same.
If you can’t find Mirassou, the Smoking Loon is a good supplement, but I wouldn’t recommend it if you have a choice. The price point might make this an attractive buy, but you can do better for the same price.
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