Varietal: Â 100% Pinot Noir
Region: Â Santa Cruz, California – USA
Cost: Â $42 (SRP)
Winemaker’s Notes: Â The Estate bottling from Domain Lois Louise is always our most accessible and imminently drinkable wine upon release. It is rich and full bodied with intense fruit (black cherry, plum, cranberry, and blueberry jam), moderate oakiness, and a long finish. The wine has an “Old World” balance between acidity and tannin.
My Review:Â Being a sucker for Pinot Noir, I’m always happy to get to try new ones. It’s even nicer when you get to try a wine that’s different (at least to you) than what you’re used to from a particular variety. That’s what happened with the 2009 Clos de la Tech Pinot Noir.
First off, the wine was dark in the glass. Like way darker than I was expecting. Whether this was a result of aging (it is a 2009 vintage afterall) or how the winemaker intended the wine to look is hard to say, but either way it was a surprise when I poured the wine into the glass.
On the nose I picked up blueberry, earth notes, and oak, while in the mouth black cherry and plum flavors made themselves known. Along with some moderate oakiness, the wine was smooth and much more full-bodied than I was really expecting, which isn’t a terrible thing – I like new wine experiences, and the wine paired well with some beef on weck sandwhiches that my wife and I made from our Blue Apron box.
I will say that if you’re looking for a lighter Pinot Noir, this isn’t the one you want to reach for. But, if you’re more interested in something with body that isn’t your usual Cabernet or Merlot, this is definitely one worth checking out and one I certainly enjoyed.
