Monterey has been producing outstanding Pinot Noirs since Josh Jensen started planting his first vineyards for Calera in the early ’70s. A decade later, Dan Lee started planting vines for Morgan. Morgan Pinots have been some of my favorites for two decades, and this reserve level wine tells why. A real beauty, it offers upfront aromas and flavors of blackberry, black cherry, and plums and nuances of herbs, all woven together with minerals and spices. It’s nicely balanced; you’ll love it on its own. It’s also a great choice for bold dishes like lamb osso buco, roast duck, or roast beef. Available online at morganwinery.com for $48 retail, it’s also at Tastes of the Valleys Pismo Beach for only $34.99.
This article appears in Mar 17-24, 2011.