Bouchaine Carneros, Napa Valley Pinot Noir Wine

Here is a gracious Pinot Noir that stands out against the many mundane mid-priced Pinots coming from California. In what I think is an effort to garner broad appeal some California producers are turning out wines that I find rather dull. They are good, perhaps very good by some standards but just not interesting.

Not so with this gem created by Mike Richmond the "Visionary" and "Spiritual Leader" of Bouchaine Estate Vineyard in Carneros, Napa Valley.

Here is a wine that is very affordable and uniquely delicious.

I tasted this wine with my friend Jenifer O'Flanagan over a scrumptious lunch at Breeze the popular Thai French Kitchen on Ninth Avenue in the 40's. It went very well with spicy and flavorful food.

According to the vineyard, "Bouchaine's Carneros Pinot Noir is a blend of Dijon, Pommard, and Swan clones from our own vineyards and very select lots from neighboring Carneros vineyards. These highly regarded neighbors include the Gee Vinyard (dry-farmed), Las Brisas Vineyards, and Casa Carneros. Our corner of Carneros is best suited to growing Pinot Noir (and Chardonnay), and the 2005 season was classic Carneros: cool, fog-covered evenings and comfortably warm days that allowed Pinot grapes to develop fully, while maintaining bright acidity. The long harvest provided us a veritable smorgasbord of grape ripeness and maturity, all of which enhanced the character of this Pinot, adding richness and layers of flavor. The resulting wine is redolent of cherries and berries with a touch of earthiness and orange peel."

I found the wine to be delightfully interesting at lunch and then more so after it had time to breath and was served in a good Riedel Burgundy wine glass during dinner with friends. A good glass can make all the difference. My friend Gail, who is not generally a Pinot drinker,  loved it saying it was much better than the French Pinots that she had tasted lately, she loved the vivid nose and rich body of this wine.

Beyond the delicious well balanced fruit I taste a medley of other flavors, walnut, sage, tea and vanilla that all dance together on the nose and tongue to my delight. This is a great food wine it is subtle, not over powering, yet complex and rich.

Find this great Pinot Noir at these Wine Stores in NY & NJ