Magenta on the pour, deep and fancy-looking like good Pinot should be.
The nose is heavy with plum, strawberry, black cherry, a touch of a floral component and a nice bit of spice box too. The 12 months this wine spent in a french oak cask are not terribly apparent on the nose but there is definitely some sort of a wood note present for a second or two with the floral component (just a bit of bark on the ground around the flowers or something like that). I do like the complexity of this aromatic set, especially for the price.
This inexpensive wine is remarkably complex and is a lot of fun on the palate. At first I get black cherry, black currant, strawberry, and the plums make a return from the nose. This initial burst of flavor is followed by a strong kick from the tannins, which are very present and bitter and prevent this wine from earning 90 points. The tannins do not linger forever, but they were present a bit longer than I had hoped for. The finish is long and elegant with cloves and other spices making a late tongue/palate appearance which helps knock the tannins off the tongue.
I had this wine with lamb tenderloin with a port reduction (with shallots, garlic, and cumin). It would also be good with pork, anything with a cream sauce, and foods with a large spice profile. Pinot Noir is a notoriously versatile wine, so be creative and have fun with it
Rating: 89
Retail: $20
This wine is often on sale (buy it buy it buy it!) and the 2009 that is currently available in stores has great potential to be similar and possibly even better (it all depends on its tannin profile in my opinion, because I am sure that Francis Coppola Winery didn't mess with the rest of the flavors).
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