From the bottle, this Pinot Noir is produced from grapes grown along the Sonoma coast of California (a popular place for Pinot these days). It is 13.9% alcohol by volume.

Where did I find it: Epicurean

What did I pair it with: Garlic parmesan tilapia

Appearance: Opaque, light reddish brown, with the legs of a near 14% alcohol wine.

Smell: Strawberry rhubarb pie with a cup of coffee

Palate Entry: Whisperingly light at first, like eating strawberries with the tip of one’s tongue.
Mid Palate: Sour cherries and a darker acidity pull in the tongue to a semi-pucker
Finish: The zing of the acidity remains a full 10 seconds after sipping, though the taste of the cherry zing leaves far before that.

Price: $16.00
Quality rating: 88/100
Value rating: 47.13/60

Takeaway: This is the first California pinot I’ve had in a while that actually tasted like one. It was delicate, light, and for the alcohol content, very well balanced. A better transition from palate entry to finish would have probably pushed the wine into the 90s; I look forward to trying some future vintages, so long as “Sideways” hasn’t pushed up the price too much. If you like pinots that taste like pinots, you won’t be disappointed; if you like bigger pinots, have a Syrah.