^TM

American Pinot Noir Overview

By Darryl Beeson

Pinot Noir is the softer, gentler red wine made even more desirable by the buzz created by the motion picture "Sideways." The beauty of Pinot Noir is that it works equally well with seafood, as compared to red meat pairings.

Acacia Pinot Noir, Carneros 2003
Price $15.99
Rating 92
Rich, jammy fruit in this consistent winner of a Pinot Noir. Think of black cherry and spiced strawberry jam. Aromas of dark cherry and cinnamon spice are followed by flavors of dark, complex fruit with a lilt of decaying leaves and mushroom/mineral.

Bouchaine Pinot Noir, Carneros 2003
Price $25
Rating 93
Winemaker Michael Richmond has crafted a Pinot Noir capturing floral and rich, red cherries, with a hint of mocha. This guy is a Pinot genius.

Camelot Pinot Noir, California 2003
Price $7.99
Rating 89
The color is a beautiful ruby red. There are aromas of ripe red fruits such as strawberry, sour cherry, along with dried herbs.

Clos du Bois Pinot Noir, Sonoma 2003
Price $16.99
Rating 91
The sip leads with red cherry and cinnamon spice. The length is long with complexity. This is one of the most dependable wine producers in California.

Edna Valley Vineyard Pinot Noir "Paragon" Edna Valley 2003
Price $18
Rating 93
Richly concentrated with complex, earthy red fruit, this red is well made. The length is long and demonstrates a sophisticated array of flavors.

Estancia Pinot Noir "Pinnacles Ranches" Monterey 2002
Price $12.99
Rating 89
A classically styled Pinot Noir, adopting the Burgundian philosophy of handling the fruit as delicately as possible.

Goldeneye Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley, 2002
Price $52
Rating 95
The nose is deep and resounding with powerful, dark fruit. Earthy, complex aromas arise. The sip leads with concentrated dark, jammy fruit. This Pinot is big and the length is long.

Kendall-Jackson "Highland Estates" Seco Highlands Pinot Noir, Ar1royo Seco 2003
Price $30
Rating 93
The soft, complex nose hints at mineral and somber, dark fruit. A sip explodes with an array of complex dark fruit, mineral and Burgundy-like directions.

Mirassou Pinot Noir, Monterey 2003
Price $11
Rating 87
The nose offers concentrated red fruit and brown spice notes. The sip enters with refreshing cherry cola elements, finishing on the lighter side. This is a perfect warm weather red to pour out on the deck.

Raptor Ridge Pinot Noir, Yamhill County, 2001
Price $22
Rating 84
Perhaps the fruit is not fully ripe, compared to other Oregon Pinot Noirs tasted. For most wineries there, this was a great vintage year. Wild berry flavors, soft earth and slight green notes are in the good, fairly complex length.

Sonoma Cutrer Pinot Noir, Russian River 2002
Price $28
Rating 89
This Pinot Noir tips its hat towards Burgundy for styling. A tad sharp and acidic, it demands a rich food pairing. This is the winery's first bottling of anything other than a stellar Chardonnay.

Trinchero Pinot Noir "Vista Montone" Napa 2003
Price $27
Rating 88
The sip leads with jammy blueberry, sort of on the sweet side. This vibrant red could work with spicy, grilled meat. Pair this with Bar B-Q basted in tomato based sauce.

Turning Leaf Pinot Noir Reserve, Sonoma 2003
Price $11.49
Rating 90
Bright red cherry notes are in the nose. The sip is earthy and filled with ripe, complex fruit. The taste tapers off with hints of mint and spice.

Darryl Beeson travels the world looking for great wine values. In the past, he has been wine steward or cellar master for The Mansion on Turtle Creek, Voltaire, and The Adolphus Hotel. Not one for stuffiness or secret handshakes relative to wine, this Texan might now be described as a "ki-yi-yippee sommelier, sommelier." Beeson reports on wine, spirits, food and travel for numerous publications.

Back to TravelLady Magazine