“Now this is a Wednesday wine.” I’m quoting my partner in wine crime here because I think this statement is spot on. I must be on a Kenwood kick because I had several of their wines in my cellar and, thus, several reviews to publish. Thoroughly impressed by the depth and complexity of their Sonoma County Zinfandel and Chardonnay, I had high hopes when I pulled the cork on Kenwood Vineyards Russian River Valley Pinot Noir.
Friday nights I like to have a little fun. And there ain’t no party like a Pinot party ‘cuz the Pinot party don’t stop! Also, Friday night is often times pizza night and pizza and Pinot is one of my fav food pairings. Well, good thing I like to keep PN’s on hand in the cellar for just such an occasion. I was actually holding on to my Josh Cellars Pinot Noir for something a little more…sophisticated. But then I thought, why not have a sophisticated PN and elevate the pizza experience? And that’s exactly what it did.
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It’s a fun occurrence when you open up a bottle of wine and the immediate sight, sniff, and sip just make you smile. And I mean really smile — from the inside out. Because a good wine will touch a part of you that even other people can’t always reach. And no, not every wine that makes one person smile will make all people smile, but when a wine brings me as much joy as Martin Ranch’s J.D. Hurley Pinot Noir…well, I just have to share that joy.
As promised in my Edna Valley Vineyard Pinot Grigio post, here’s yet another cellar staple from my personal stash: Edna Valley Vineyard Central Coast Pinot Noir. It’s like this: you don’t want to have to think about whether a wine will taste “good,” whether it’ll go with a meal you’ll actually eat, or whether you’ll have leftover wine to worry about. This is that wine that you don’t have to worry about — I guarantee you’ll like it, you’ll drink it, and you won’t have any leftovers…
This was one of those times where I was looking for a wine specifically to pair with my dinner plans. I was looking for something light and refreshing, but red. I was walking down the Pinot Noir aisle and right in my line of vision is a Pinot by Carmel Road.
So I picked up the bottle and — what’s this? Wine by Drew Barrymore? Ok ok…I know she’s making wine now — let’s face it, most celebrities are. And, for me, that could be a potential put-off: is it gimicky? is the wine going to taste as fake as Hollywood?
I’ve only ever had Carmel Road’s Unoaked Chardonnay (which is not associated with DB), and my mind was telling me what a reliable producer Carmel Road is. Besides, if their Chard is unoaked, perhaps they’ll keep the oak to a minimum in their reds. And with grapes grown in the steady climate of Monterey with its fresh ocean air and sweet sea breezes — how could this not be the cool and refreshing red wine I’m looking for?
Obviously I bought the wine… (more…)