2009 Loring Wine Company Keefer Ranch Vineyard Pinot Noir, Green Valley of Russian River Valley - A Pinot Noir of almost Zinfandel-like proportions. Incredibly deep color. Rich, ripe, blueberry and cherry aromatics punctuated by black pepper, sweet herbs and light licorice flavors. Quite full-bodied with solid tannins and nice acidity. Really carries the 14.9% alcohol well. Not for traditionalists or Burgundy drinkers, but I absolutely love this stuff. One of the few single vineyard Loring Pinots available in Kansas, this retails for $50.
2010 Sean Minor Pinot Noir, Carneros - Classic light- to medium-bodied Carneros notes of strawberry and vanilla with light herbal undertones. Beautifully balanced on the palate with sweet-tart red fruit and pretty herbal shadings. This was my first taste of the 2010 Carneros bottling. Consistent with previous vintages of this, one of my favorite values in California Pinot Noir. With the 2010 vintage Sean Minor has split his Pinot Noir pricing with a Central Coast holding the line at $15 and the Carneros bottling checking in at just under $20.
For dinner I served a delicious spice-rubbed, grilled pork tenderloin with wild rice pilaf and braised Brussels sprouts. Both wines were very nice with the smoky, assertively-seasoned pork.
I always thought it was brussel sprouts. Hmm, must be like attorneys general.
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