by Ethan Johnson
November 29, 2008

My first "wow" wine issued forth from the Russian River Valley in California, and since that discovery I have been aching to make a return voyage. Sadly, RRV wines aren't cheap. I managed to snag the following wine during flush times and sock it away for Thanksgiving:

Producer (Vineyard): Piper-Sonoma
Varietal (Grape type): Pinot Noir
Vintage (Year): 2006
Country: USA (California)
Color: Red
Cost: Expensive ($22 USD)

Swirl and Sniff: The color is a bright cherry red. Sniff-wise, this was something of a one-trick pony. What wasn't alcohol fumes was, mmmm, we'll say raspberries.

Taste: Very plummy. There were raspberry sensations here and there, but otherwise lightly tannic and plummy.

Pairing: I paired this with good old Thanksgiving dinner. It paired reasonably well with the food, except depending on which item was being consumed, the finish became more astringent.

Rating: When it comes to this wine, I would (and you may):

• Buy three or more bottles for regular enjoyment
• Buy a bottle or two for occasional enjoyment
• Ask for when dining out or at a party
• Settle for if your preferred wine is not available
• Politely decline and never drink again, ever

This was a lot to spend (for me) on mediocre wine. I bought into the Russian River Valley hype, and maybe some other RRV wine will hit the spot, for as for this one, I could have done much better with a $10 seeds-and-stems wine. This is the essence of the love/hate relationship one might establish with wine: Each bottle is different, and no two experiences will be alike. But wow, what a let-down. I think the take-away from this experience is to not set bottles of wine aside for special occasions. Bye-bye, Boat.

If you do give this a try, please let me know how your experience compared with mine. Thanks! <EM>

(The Totally Unpretentious Wine Reviews Index may be found here.)