PINOT NOIR POCKET WINES Flashcards
What is the premium pinot noir pocket wine?
2021 Sea Smoke Ten, Santa Rita Hills, CA — $250
Sea Smoke Ten is a premium Pinot Noir from Santa Rita Hills, California, crafted from 10 different clones grown on their unique south-facing estate vineyard. The 2021 vintage experienced a cooler growing season, resulting in a wine with intense aromas of dark fruits, floral notes, and a hint of earthiness, complemented by a rich texture, firm tannins, and a long, velvety finish. This wine showcases the distinct terroir of Sea Smoke’s estate, where Pacific Ocean fog meets intense sun exposure on clay-rich soils, allowing for slow ripening and complex flavor development. Highly rated by critics, this age-worthy, masculine Pinot Noir pairs excellently with pork and duck rillettes, and reveals its complexity slowly in the glass.
What is the mid level pinot noir pocket wine?
2022 Ken Wright, Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, Oregon – $155
Ken Wright Cellars’ 2022 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir showcases the exceptional quality of this unique vintage, which saw a cold spring, brief hot summer, and ideal fall weather for ripening. This wine offers a brilliant core of red and bramble fruits with hints of cedar, passion fruit, rose petal, and turned earth, balanced by a plush texture and a vibrant, juicy finish. Ken Wright’s philosophy of “source is everything” is evident in this wine, which is crafted using organic practices and minimal handling to preserve the natural characteristics of the grapes. As an entry-level offering from this iconic producer, it provides an accessible yet authentic expression of Willamette Valley terroir, making it an excellent introduction to Ken Wright’s renowned single-vineyard Pinot Noirs.
What is the base level pinot noir pocket wine?
2022 En Route “Les Pommiers,” Russian River Valley, CA — $95
The 2022 EnRoute “Les Pommiers” Pinot Noir showcases the exceptional quality of Russian River Valley fruit, blended from three coveted vineyards in a near-perfect vintage. This vibrant ruby wine offers a complex bouquet of fresh raspberry, baking spices, and forest floor, leading to a palate of generous strawberry preserves and elegant, silky tannins. The wine’s charming delicacy is highlighted by its captivating dance between snappy tannins and lively acidity, creating a pleasurable and well-balanced experience. At $60, this Pinot Noir represents EnRoute’s commitment to expressing the unique terroir of the Russian River Valley, offering a delightful taste of this renowned region’s potential.
