This delicious Pinot Noir exhibits classic characteristics of the wine-growing region. It was my first taste of this new brand, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The Pinot Noir grapes are 65 percent Riverbench Vineyard and 35 percent Presqu’ile, both highly regarded for the quality of their grapes. Truly California in style, it offers ripe fruit flavors of black cherry, blackberries, and plums, nicely balanced by notes of tangy raspberries. A thread of herbs, spice, and toast make it exotic and food friendly. I can’t wait to taste more from this brand, which means: “The convergence of cool Pacific Ocean air, warm coastal foothills, and late afternoon western light.” It’s only $28 retail online at luminescewine.com or $26 at Tastes of the Valleys Pismo Beach.
This article appears in Nov 8-15, 2012.