Smoking Loon, Pinot Noir 2008

White or Red: Red
Grape: Pinot Noir
Origin: California
Vintage: 2008
Price: $10


Overall: Usually, an under 10 dollar bottle of Pinot Noir tastes like semi-alcoholic diet grape juice... too light, too watery, too dull. This Smoking Loon does its part to buck that trend. Color is almost a reddish-orange. The color....it reminds me of a super vintage 1980 something California cabernet consumed at Dimes place within the past year, that we had no right to be near.

Deeper: The initial smell, and final finish is of tangy sweet dried fruit. As a kid, would you have liked a cross between Fruit Roll up and sour patch kids? Then this wine is for you. Dont get me wrong, as with any Pinot, its light. This one is "melt in your freakin mouth" light, but there is a long lasting flavor, that makes you think, this wine must have been stored in some oak casks, at least for a day or two. Pair it with... its self. Its just really good for a not really good wine price. -Pete Moss