It has been awhile-- I've certainly missed being here and writing about the plethora of wines that I love. A big thank you (and an even bigger I'm sorry) to Heather for continuing to consume wine/blog about it in my absence.
After the whirlwind that December is, I find that January tends to take on a very calm, cozy tone. My dresses are swapped for leggings and cashmere, and the cocktail parties that dominated my social calendar are happily replaced with more intimate dinners in. This weekend, I had two beautiful dinners with two wonderful groups of friends in their homes, and I must say that I'm quite blessed with amazing friends who appreciate delicious food, wine, and laughter as much as I do. A friend of mine produced the most lovely spinach and coconut milk soup on Friday night as an appetizer that went absolutely beautifully with a crisp gewurztraminer. As we all sat around the warm dining room laughing and clinking glasses, I took in all of the comfort and happiness that my friends exude.
What else brings comfort and happiness? Rodney Strong's Pinot Noir (2009). It makes sense that a dear friend introduced me to this wine many years ago, and it still is a wine that's compelling enough to me to buy regularly. I find I'm not the most loyal when it comes to wine--There's just so much out there to choose from and try that it's hard to limit myself to only a few producers! That said, whenever I'm in the mood for a great pinot noir, I go straight for this wine. It's produced in the Russian River Valley (yes, I'm still drinking a ton of California wine), which is one of the world's best regions for the pinot noir grape. This region is actually quite cool as a result of the fog that rolls in from the Pacific Ocean. Pinot grapes have a very thin skin (unlike a thick malbec, for example), so it really does it's best in a cooler, more gentle climate that allows the grape to ripen over a long period of time.
Back to the wine-- It's beautiful. It's fruity! Those that aren't as inclined to reach for a pinot normally dislike the wine's more herbaceous, austere notes, but this wine is really well balanced from a flavour perspective. There's cherry, cinnamon, and oak, all held together in a stunning garnet package. If you're not a lover of pinot, I implore you to go out to your nearest wine retailer and grab a bottle. I promise that this wine will make it into your regular repertoire quite quickly. The best part about pinot is it's versatility. You could pair this with salmon or turkey just as easily as you could match it with a vegetable lasagna. The wine is $24.95 in Vintages at the LCBO, and certainly seems to be there whenever I need it-- Just like a wonderful friend.
XO
AK
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