Anyone who has seen the film ‘Sideways’ will recognize the wine region for this central Californian pinot noir. Given that Easter is upon us this weekend and many will be eating turkey, I thought I’d suggest one of my favourite holiday pairings: a tasty pinot noir with juicy roasted turkey. This wine comes from a bit of a star producer in central California who is known for merging old world Burgundy-style wine making with new world fruit and character.
This is a nicely structured pinot with much more intensity than you would expect from a ‘cheaper’ bottle. While it has the classic strawberry nose, this is much subdued compared to many pinots. The wine exhudes what I would call gamey fruitiness and a nice smooth rasberry-like finish. Tannins are very low as usual for a basic pinot noir bottling, but those little that do exist are very well integrated. A sure winner for those holiday get togethers. And, if you really want to impress your guests, you can always spring for one of Au Bon Climat’s higher end bottles, which are available at Marquis Wine Cellars downtown at Burrard and Davie. The regular pinot, however, is easily attainable at nearby BC Liquor stores. Enjoy the holiday!
$36 at BC Liquor
Last modified: March 21, 2008
