Owner/winemaker Chuck Carlson is the winemaker for Curtis Winery on Foxen Canyon Road in Los Olivos. Every year he buys Pinot Noir for his eponymous brand from his neighbors, the Talley’s in the Arroyo Grande Valley, known for their ultra-premium Pinot. This elegant, impressive Pinot is one you’ll want to stash in your cellar. Rich and fragrant with black cherries, plums, and wild berries, with nuances of spice and smoke, it just keeps getting better as it ages. If you can’t resist it, and believe me I couldn’t, open it for a special dinner with grilled steak or lamb chops. At $54 retail it’s in the special occasion range, but it’s worth splurging for this extraordinary wine. Available at the Curtis tasting room.
You can reach New Times’ Cuisine columnist at khardesty@newtimesslo.com
This article appears in Sep 4-11, 2008.