When an Oregon Pinot is good, it’s really good. Although many of these demand a price, there are some examples that provide much of the bang without having the shell out the big bucks. One of these is the ever-consistent King Estate Pinot Noir.
This excellent Pinot Noir is part of King Estate’s Signature Collection. With reliable Wine Spectator ratings in the high 80’s and 90’s, this one is a buy at under $30. Total Wine is currently offering the 2009/2010 vintages for $21.49.
For another plus, the 2009 is ready to drink right now, simply because of its age. Little or no cellaring needed to improve it much more. Its flavors may have already peaked or will next year. The 2010 vintage has also been released and is also available at other Phoenix area outlets.
With a bouquet of dried cherries and cola, this one just begs for several sniffs above the glass before imbibing. The deep ruby color and solid body give way to a mild earthy fruit finish with low acidity. King Estate mentions this in their tasting notes as being the result of Malolactic Fermentation. To Pinot perfectionists this may limit the food pairing possibilities, but the tradeoff is a wine that drinks with or without food quite well.
During a recent pairing with Shrimp Scampi, it worked as a perfect accompaniment. However, there were also a few Italian wines going around the table, just to keep it interesting. The tasting comparison between these two proved to be an interesting exercise in flavor variations, since Pinot Noir is not often used in Italian wine blends.
Serve slightly chilled from the fridge after20 minutes (60-65 degrees). If it’s served too cold, the bouquet will be overly muted and it will be just too wimpy, although it may pair better with Salmon when served colder.
Article by Tom Peiffer, Phoenix Wine Shopping Examiner at Examiner.com
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