When the weather starts to get warmer, we all tend to reach for the white and rose wines more often, but we can’t forget about our light-bodied reds. Red wines like Pinot Noir are naturally light in body and tannin and have fruit forward flavors, perfect for those hot summer months (or all year really). Pinot Noir goes really well with some BBQ, and meatier seafood like swordfish.
Flowers Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2017
Flowers Pinot Noir has been on my list to try for a while now. It’s always a pleasant surprise when something lives up to everything you’ve made it out to be in your mind. This Pinot Noir was everything I hoped it would be – delicate and silky! It’s slightly peppery on the nose. On the pallet it’s velvety, tastes of red berries and has hints of florals.
I paired this wine with pizza and the bottle seemed to disappear way too fast (ha!). I’ll definitely be reordering this!
Joseph Phelps Freestone Pinot Noir 2015
Joseph Phelps is a producer I’ve had my eye on for a while, and I finally bought a bottle. In 1973 Joe Phelps purchased a ranch near St. Helena in the Napa Valley. Then in 1999 the family expanded into Sonoma. Purchasing 100 acres near the town of Freestone on the Sonoma Coast, where they now grows pinot noir and chardonnay. They’re known for their red Bordeaux blends, but they’ll run you about $300, so I decided to give one of their more “affordable” (still about $50) wines a try. Before springing for their signature wine!
This was a fabulous Sonoma pinot. Filled with really deep berry flavors, soft tannins, and long soft finish. This was joy to drink. Excellent on it’s own and so versatile. It would pair well with most food.
Cristom 2019 Pinot Noir
Delicious. That was my note next to this bottle while drinking it. This Pinot was so smooth and silky begging to be drank. The Mt Jefferson Cristom Pinot Noir has concentrated cherry flavors and a lingering vanilla finish. This is their entry level Pinot and if the entry level is this good we can’t wait to try some of their more refined vintages.
Fantesca’s King Richards Reserve – 2016
My notes from tasting this wine were “OMG!! need to order a bottle” and we did. At a slightly steeper price point this bottle is worth every last penny that you paid – and then some. It was originally made specifically for the family and not to be re-sold but as they poured little tries here and there during their tastings the demand was clear. Since it was made special for her grandfather, they told him to dictate the price per bottle and he picked $114 thinking no one would pay that for a Pinot Noir (boy was he wrong 😂) This Pinot exudes flavors of dark fruit with an incredibly long delicious finish. Run, don’t walk to get a bottle of this.
Walt La Brisa Pinot Noir
This is 100% my go to Pinot Noir…. well anything Pinot Noir from Walt. If I see this on a restaurants menu 10 times out of 10 I’m ordering a glass of it. This is the Pinot Noir that changed my mind on the varietal from take it or leave it to I absolutely love it! With notes of cherry and ripe red fruit this is one of those Pinot’s that you will not put down until the bottle is empty. Just trust us when we say get a bottle of their Pinot, it doesn’t matter which one it is because we guarantee it’s going to be delicious.