You can get good tastings Pinot Noirs’ for well under $20, but you got to spend some money to get those complicated, funky, addicting Pinots. This is a single vineyard (Rio Vista Vineyards) in the Santa Rita Hills region of Santa Barbara, California. 11 months in French oak, 13.8% alcohol content.
The color is see thru red with brown highlights. It has that cool, funky Pinot Noir nose, medicinal notes, eucalyptus, dirt and fruit. The first taste is huge blast of red fruit and blueberries on the tip of the tongue that transitions to a bit of acidity in the back of the palate, then a long, long dark fruit finish. Nicely structured and balanced. A very well crafted Pinot Noir.
This sounds very up my alley – I love the funky stuff
What’s even more funny is that there’s a great funky shiraz from Australia called the Gatekeeper, just like this wine.