Spotlight On: Pinot Noir
It’s Pinot Noir season and we’ve got a few new selections to choose from. Allow our staff to guide you through this grape’s superb potential.
Egri Bikavér Superior, Gál Tibor – 2019 $18.96
Legend has it that during the 1552 siege of Eger castle by Ottoman head-honcho Suleiman the Magnificent, defending soldiers were given delicious food and red wine rumored to contain bull’s blood, which gave them strength and firm resistance. Egir Bikavér (Bull’s Blood of Eger) was born. Centuries later Hungarian winemaker Gál Tibor Jr, son of the late and very great Gál Tibor, produces this wine with the goal to “bring back the good reputation of the Egir Bikavér.” The wine is crisp, spicy and vibrant, with sour red cherries, cranberries and red currant flavors. – Simon Gouldstone, Astor Wines & Spirits Consultant
Sancerre Rouge, Lauverjat – 2021 $24.96
5 Words: Fresh, Stemmy, Raspberry, Cherry, Earth. This 100% Pinot Noir Sancerre Rouge is light bodied and charmingly reserved. It spends 10 months aging in neutral barrels before bottling. – Erikka Andersen, Astor Wines & Spirits Consultant
Donkey and Goat, “Enz Vineyard”, Pinot Noir – 2021 $28.96
2021 was unfortunate for many California vineyards. Luckily, a batch of Pinot Noir became available from The Central Coast’s Enz Vineyard. 40-year-old vines planted at 1100 ft elevation on sandy granite, limestone, and dolomite. Rich dark berry fruit, dried black tea, and a touch of smoke are packed into each mouthful. Grippy, granular tannins and a brisk acidity give the wine structure for drinking years later. A beautiful wine to pair with a truffled sheep cheese. – Chung Park, Astor Wines & Spirits Consultant
Lemelson “Thea’s Selection” Pinot Noir – 2021 $33.99
There’s something about an Oregonian Pinot Noir that has a special place in my heart. It carries the fruit and spice of a California Pinot, while showcasing the elegance and earth of a red Burgundy. The Lemelson “Thea’s Selection” Willamette Valley Pinot Noir is no different. Ripe black cherries, red raspberry, and currents fill the nose with elegance while anise, black tea, and sweet baking spice add a dimension of earthiness. This wine is plush on the palate while a cheerful freshness and polished tannins rounds out and balances the wine. It was an absolute pleasure to taste. – Matthew Goodyear, Astor Wines & Spirits Consultant
Belle Glos “Las Alturas” Pinot Noir – 2020 $48.99
A big, ripe, yet absolutely approachable and seriously crushable Pinot Noir from Belle Glos (pronounced ‘Bell Gloss’). On the nose, raspberry, gooseberry and cherry lozenge harmonize perfectly. On the palate, mixed berry preserves, cherry cola, flaky milky chocolate and a hint of nutmeg take us to a warm and immensely satisfying finish. And yes, that’s a lot of wax on the bottle, but it comes off very gracefully with an easy pull tab. – Simon Gouldstone, Astor Wines & Spirits Consultant
Dom. du Pélican, Cuvée Trois Cépages – 2021 $54.99
The first non-Burgundy wine that fooled Guillaume d’Angerville when tasted blind was a Jura Chardonnay from Stéphane Tissot. This impacted Guillaume to such an extent that he began a quest in search of vineyards in the Jura. This was a big deal, since the d’Angerville name has its roots in Volnay, where Domaine Marquis d’Angerville began bottling their own Burgundy wines in the 1920s (much to the dismay of the négociants)! Pinot Noir, Trousseau, and Poulsard come together here in harmony, creating an elegant yet intense blend that is as pure as the Jurassic blue and gray marl soils they grow on. Vibrant red fruits, hints of forest floor, floral tones, and a pristine minerality combine for a truly exciting experience! – Alex Malecki, Sales Manager