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Pinot Noir Carneros

Pinot Noir Carneros Wine Details
Price: $24.00 per bottle

Description: Familiar aromas of black cherry, plum and earthy spice make an attractive introduction. As this Pinot Noir develops in the glass, I also detect some interesting hints of smoke and licorice. In the mouth the wine is nicely structured with good acidity and just enough tannin to provide length to the finish. Already proclaimed an exceptional vintage, 2002 has produced some very fine Pinot Noirs from Carneros and other parts of California. I am particularly proud of this bottling and expect that it will evolve for several years.

Varietal Definition
Pinot Noir:
The name is derived from the French words for ‘pine’ and ‘black’ alluding to the varietals' tightly clustered dark purple pine cone shaped bunches of fruit. Pinot Noir grapes are grown around the world, mostly in the cooler regions, but the grape is chiefly associated with the Burgundy region of France. It is widely considered to produce some of the finest wines in the world, but is a difficult variety to cultivate and transform into wine. By volume most Pinot Noir in America is grown in California with Oregon coming in second. Other regions are Washington State and New York.During 2004 and the beginning of 2005, Pinot Noir became considerably more popular amongst consumers in the United States, possibly because of the movie Sideways. Being lighter in style, it has benefited from a trend toward more restrained, less alcoholic wines. It is the delicate, subtle, complex and elegant nature of this wine that encourages growers and winemakers to cultivate this difficult grape. Robert Parker has described Pinot Noir: "When it's great, Pinot Noir produces the most complex, hedonistic, and remarkably thrilling red wine in the world."


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