Text Format:Theme Thursday:Which $15 Pinot is the Best?

Theme Thursday: which $15 Pinot is the Best?

A Tasting Case of two cheap (no sense mincing words here) Pinot Noirs
- $175 after discount

Theme Thursday...we respectfully request your input on a new
"everyday" Pinot Noir. We've asked our wholesale winery reps to come
up with wines which fit the following requirements: Medium to-full
bodied, fruit-driven, clean and (most importantly) varietelly correct
yet retail for $15 or under. The wine's point of origin does not
matter providing they fit these criteria. Most of them rolled their
eyes, a few took us seriously. Here are the first two candidates for
your (and our) consideration.

Pinot Noir is still the most acclaimed variety in our country; problem
is, the prices of both domestic and imported examples keep rising like
pizza dough under flood lights. Finding quality wines which actually
"taste" like Pinot for under $30 are becoming rare. Many of the wines
which we've always depended on for their varietal integrity and modest
tare have become downright arrogant, allowing pretentiousness to flood
their previous lack of conceit in the wave of Pinot
popularity.(Sheesh! I sound like Spiro Agnew).

Obviously, we needed a new Pinot Pony to ride down the path toward are
daily vinous sunset. A wine which looked, smelled and tasted like the
pricy stuff yet defied the common perception that a good jar of PN had
to equal the price of the entrée', side dish, veggies and dessert.
(Am I the only one who thinks its nuts when your wine tab's greater
than the food?) Friends, we have only just begun our search yet have
already been heartened by our findings. Here then are our first
entrants in the quest to find the best "Cheap and Cheerful" everyday
Pinot Noir. We honestly want your feedback on this one because in the
best democratic tradition, the wine which receives the most votes
wins.

***Our first entrant is the Santa Barbara Winery 2006 Monterey County
Pinot Noir made by Bruce McGuire. This is a juicy, ripe, raspberry
and blackberry infused perfectly balanced little fruit bomb. Ultra
clean odors of blueberry compote, vanilla and cherry jam waft from the
glass. The color is a transparent garnet with blue/purple around the
perimeter. Flavors of sweet raspberry pancake syrup, cinnamon and
other baking spices wrapped up in a velvety, medium-bodied texture.
The finish is exactly what you'd expect of a sub $20 PN, short and
sweet.
The Santa Barbara over-delivers and is surprisingly complex given its
VERY reasonable price. Stick a French label on this sucker, double
its price and they'll line up to buy it in just about any 80-watt
restaurant in Northern California (you know, places with $18-$22
entrees and $5 desserts... my kind of "semi-special occasion" kind of
joint).

***We drive up the coast to Firesteed Vineyards in Rickreall Oregon, a
small town roughly 12 miles west of Salem on Pacific Highway. The
Firesteed is a true "Oregon" designate made from a blend of grapes
grown in the Willamette, Umpqua, Rogue and Walla Walla regions of the
state. The sum is greater than its parts in this one. A couple
shades darker than the Santa Barbara with a bit more stuffing in the
middle and a couple notches up the scale in body. Slightly crisper,
with a bit more food-friendly acid to give it balance and weight.
Flavors of warm berry preserves and strawberry shortcake are followed
by layers of vanilla, blackberries and chocolate covered espresso
beans; the tannins are soft and the texture is crisp...the finish is a
bit longer than the Santa Barbara. This one also impresses by its
complexity vs. price.

Both of these wines cannot fail to please given their price and true
Pinot flavors. They'll serve you beautifully with everything from a
grilled hanger steak to ripe Brie and a baguette. Their
fruit-forward, food friendly personalities make them superbly
adaptable and they're $175/Case ($14.58/Jar)