"God made Cabernet, whereas the Devil made Pinot Noir" - Andre Tchelistcheff
New to Wine & Cheese is our Pinot Noir tasting flight. Here for a limited time you may sample a flight from three of the world's best places for Pinot Noir.
The 2009 Black Diamond Pinot Noir is from the Russian River Valley and is 100% Pinot. Whereas many CA Pinots throw in Syrah or Malbec to up the alcohol and turn it into a jammy cab like substance, the Black Diamond is unashamedly Burgundian in style but showcasing the soft ripeness that CA can bring to the picture. The fruit is vibrant and clean, letting this wine sing with any of our soft cheeses. Try it at home with a barely done pork loin to see how food friendly this guy is.
And speaking of Burgundy, (and not Almaden Mountain Burgundy) we have a 2008 Premier Cru Mercurey from the Les Saumonts vineyard. Warmer than average summers have softened many of this region's wines and this one is no exception. Very drinkable today with rich fruit and impressive body, we are excited to be pouring this by the glass or flight for a limited time.
And last but not least is a Pinot from the Willamette Valley in Oregon. The 2010 Evesham Wood Pinot from their Illahe Vineyard is classic Oregon Pinot showing mushroom and soft forest floor aromas behind its impressive fruit balance.
This flight is a bit of a change for us as these wines are similar in weight and style, making the differences more subtle but still obvious when tasting side by side. Pinot Noir is a challenging grape to grow with its thin skins but when done right becomes probably the best food wine on the planet with its acidity and soft flavors. Come on out and try some with us!
Riesling is a elegant yet powerful varietal that dates back to at least the 1400's in Europe. One of the most popular whites, Riesling can make quality wines from very sweet to bone dry and when crafted appropriately can be aged longer than pretty much any other white wine. Here in the states, sweet bulk Riesling flooded the market after WII in response to how much it was loved by those serving overseas. This lower quality wine has prejudiced many against this remarkable grape and its potential. This flight will destroy any prejudice you might have had! The flight is $28 and features Rielsing from Austria, Germany, New Zealand, France with a "bonus" wine from New York.
Our new flight brings to light some of the amazing wines from one of France's most beautiful and notorious wine regions. Julius Ceasar and the Romans brought vines to the area in around 50BC and towns like Tours and Orleans were the homes of royalty long before Paris. Even when the capital was moved to Paris, the climate, cuisine and wines saw the French royalty often spending the entire summer traveling leisurely on the Loire.
Well you guys drank up all the Burgundy so we need a new flight! We've got a very different flight for you now featuring big bold Spanish reds and a lovely white from Valdeorras in Northwest Spain.
