At Long Last…Pinot Noir

     It may seem odd to some that pinot noir is scarcely mentioned in this blog. Contrary to what this may lead my readers to believe, I am an ardent fan of this luscious wine. Unfortunately, pinots from Burgundy have become far too expensive for my casual consumption. Adding to my dismay with the high cost of wines from Burgundy is that on those rare occasions when I did spend as much fifty dollars for a bottle, I was bitterly disappointed. My assumption is that our retailers are either marking up wines from Burgundy excessively, due to the wine region’s high regard amongst wine lovers or we are not importing the best that Burgundy has to offer.  Regardless of the reasons behind the high prices and poor quality, I resolved to stop wasting my money any further.

     Still, the longing for the lush taste sensation of pinot noir lingered on as a fickle memory taunting me. Unwilling to give up entirely on what I consider the noblest of all grapes, I turned my attentions to domestic producers. Unfortunately, nearly all of the American pinots I tried left an unpleasant bitter finish that is contrary to what I expect from any pinot noir.

     There is one exception to this and I would be remiss not to mention it. Costa De Oro in Santa Barbara California makes a luscious pinot noir that I tasted several years ago while visiting numerous wineries in the central coast wine region of California. Regrettably, their distribution is very limited outside of California and as a result I have not mentioned their wine before. Except for Costa De Oro, I have never found a pinot noir worth writing about—until now.

      Last month, while visiting the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston I decided to try a glass of pinot noir in one of their cafes. To my utter delight it was wonderful!  Every sip exactly as I remembered pinot noir to be—medium bodied with luscious, fruity raspberry acids and soft tannins combining to produce a velvety smooth finish. I was once again enamored with one of my favorite wines—pinot noir.  The producer of this little gem is Sea Glass Wines. The grapes are grown in their vineyards in Santa Barbara California and the wine itself is produced in their winery in Monterrey. Adding to my appreciation for the Sea Glass pinot noir is an even more agreeable price, $9.99 at Standard Liquors on Eddy Street in Providence, Rhode Island.

      Once again, I am now able to savor the lush taste sensations of pinot noir with  roast turkey, duck and other fowls as well as a variety of beef dishes such as beef stew, pot roast, meat loaf and more.  Thank you Sea Glass!

From Evolution to Revolution

Red wines from the Rhone Valley in France have long been some of my favorites.  As with most red wines today they have evolved into more robust versions of what I first discovered in the early 1970’s.  Way back then, in what seems to be ancient times in the wine industry, Rhone wines were young and fruity; simple wines for everyday consumption. Today they are bigger and bolder to satisfy a new generation of wine lovers weaned on California Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Still, in spite of their evolutionary march up the ladder to bigger and bolder, Rhone wines did not pair well with hearty red meats—that is until now. 

Moving up to new heights on our evolutionary scale of boldness for Rhone wines is a 2011 Cote-du-Rhone from Moillard, a highly esteemed Burgundy producer. This brazen Rhone wine consisting of 50% Syrah, 40% Grenache and 10% Mourvedre coupled with oak maturation brashly stimulates the palate with spicy black fruit flavors and a long velvety finish. In the past, pairing a Cote du Rhone with mouthwatering sirloin steaks or hearty beef stews would be unthinkable, not so with this offering.  Unlike other Cote-du-Rhones, this full-bodied wine will not be overwhelmed by many such savory beef dishes. The bold tannins and acids coalesce with the beef’s juicy richness. The wine’s velvety texture joined with the richness of beef on the palate creates a singular taste sensation. Not only is this the biggest and boldest Rhone wine yet but its effect on our taste buds is an uncommon experience. Long-time Rhone wine enthusiasts and newcomers to the Valley’s wines alike will not want to miss experiencing this revolutionary Cote-du-Rhone from Moillard.

Bon degustation!