Simple Hedonisms

Pinot Noir – oh how I love thee, let me count the ways. I keep waiting for palette fatigue to diminish my love affair with Pinot Noir as it has other varietals, but it never seems to abate…silky, seductive, finicky, and when its right, a sensory experience that makes you fall in love, for the 500th time…..

I have quested for an every day Pinot ~$20 that wouldn’t disappoint me for quite some time…on occasion I find it, but its generally been when K&L Wines, the Bay area’s premier wine merchant, does one of their great deals, as they often do. K&L is hard to beat, they literally travel the planet for wine, and allow you to purchase wine on their excellent website, and they will hold it Will Call it for 90 days, in the San Francisco SOMA or Redwood City location. Somehow every time I pick up I have 2-3 cases….dunno how that happens! I generally use them for imports, especially as I dabble more and more in French wines….however this gem I am reviewing caught my eye in an email.

I have to confess when I get an email from them about a Pinot saying:

” was $45 elswhere, 92 points from Wine Enthusiast! And, according to Wine Spectator: “Spicy cherry, wild berry and raspberry are ripe and full-bodied, fresh and lively, with firm tannins. Ends with a pretty burst of dark berry frutiness. Drink now through 2013. 650 cases made.” (Web only, 2009) Virtually any 2007 Anderson Valley Pinot at $19.99 is a steal. This is a complete and balanced wine with great acidity, beautiful cherry fruit with just a hint of cola, spice and earthy flavors. Don’t be afraid to buy a case, this wine will drink beautifully for the next year or two.This is probably my favorite of the two ’07 Jim Ball wines I tasted this year.

You had me at Pinot, Anderson Valley, 650 cases, Jim Ball Vineyards. I’ll gamble, 9 bottles ordered, 6 for me, 3 for Deb, my once blog editor, whom I hope will return soon after the CA Bar exam. (Thats law, not bar tending.)

This Pinot Noir doesn’t disappoint, the $20 sale price is just a plus. (The website still shows the originally price at $50.)

Color: Bright, brickish, lively color

Nose: Abundant mushroom and earth on nose at initial opening.  later to expose more of the cherry and red fruit.

In the Mouth: Well balanced acidity and tannins; the earthiness carries onto the palette, combined with cherry, berry a hint of spice.  The finish is pleasant, seductive and lingering.

If you are looking for a big, extracted, dark purply Pinot, this isn’t it. It’s not delicate or Burgundian, but it’s no wimp, and exhibits the many layers of complexity that make me love a good Pinot.

Glad I bought a few bottles at this price – the blind gamble paid off!

Pinot Lover? Don’t forget the Pinot Summit is almost here, and a few tickets left. Simple Hedonisms readers get a special discount, thanks to the generosity of Event creator, Barbara. Hope to see you there!