Lockwood 2007 Pinot Noir Block 7 Monterey 

This tasty Pinot expresses its cool-climate origin, providing a tasty Pinot that’s delicious alone and quite food friendly. It was a dry but chilly vintage for Monterey that resulted in smaller-than-usual crops. Aged in French oak 10 months, it’s nicely balanced and quite delicious at such a young age. I enjoyed its forward fruit flavors of plums, black cherry, and cranberry, highlighted with notes of spice and earth. The winery suggests pairing it with salmon, pesto- dressed pasta, or roast pork tenderloin. It’s also a good choice for seared ahi or mushroom-based dishes. A very good value for Pinot at $18.99, it’s available at lockwood-wine.com and Vons Grocery.