Irony, 2008 Pinot Noir

White or Red: Red

Grape(s): Pinot Noir

Origin: Russian River Valley

Vintage: 2008

Price: Squarely $14.98 where I shop

Overall: 

Light in color, a beautiful smell comprised of strawberries, cherries, dark chocolate and plum, this is awesome grape.  Wonderful balance between the fruit and alcohol.  Tons of ripe fruit upfront and then it finishes dry and subtle.  Very satisfying and grand for a Pinot Noir.  I'm in love.

The charateristics of this wine present a profile of quality rarely seen at this price-point.  While I'm only a Semi-Pro, something tells me that if this wine spent a year or two more on the shelf it may reach rockstar status.  Those flavors, if given more time to co-mingle, may put on a show that could rival Bon Jovi playing somewhere in NJ.  Oh, the irony of it all.

Buy this.

Agustinos, Pinot Noir, 2009

White or Red: Red

Grape(s): Pinot Noir

Origin: Chile

Vintage: 2009

Price: Squarely $15.00

Overall: 

In several reviews, reds mostly, I mention letting the wine breathe before drinking it.  I usually crack a joke about enticing you to do so.  It is with good intentions that I make the suggestion because too often I make a judgment before it is warranted.  You likely have encountered this along your journey and by the third glass your like, “Wow, am I buzzed or is this just tasting better?”  Your senses are not fooling you-the wine has just opened up.  Many of you know this concept but do not bother to exploit it: your loss.

Agustinos is my finest example of the aforementioned.  I tasted it right out of the bottle, 30 minutes later, and then after 90 minutes.  Like a chameleon changing colors, the wine went through several transformations.  The latter being the most appealing point, was ultimately the reason why I consumed 95.2% of the bottle (I spilled the rest).

Light in color and body, with a scent of cherry cola, a little vanilla, and mesquite smoke, this pinot is top shelf.  I would add there is a slight floral component flanked by strawberries here that ultimately leads to a light finish.  It is super easy to drink and is touted in the world of environmentally sensitive vineyards.  What’s not to like?


Semi-Pro Tip – Invest in a Vinturi Wine aerator.  It’s like $20.00 and will accelerate the speed in which the wine opens up.  You can pour the wine right through it and into a glass or decanter.