Quarantine Favorites #2: Pinot Noir

Anyone love Pinot Noir? Or I guess the better question is, who doesn't love Pinot Noir?

It has been my red wine of choice these days. It's light, fruity, and bright - it's perfect for casual drinking anytime at home. Pinot Noir, which originated in the Burgundy region of France, is now grown all around the world, mostly in cool climates. France and the US are the largest producers of Pinot Noir, followed by Germany (learned something new today). While the US obviously is very big and diverse, California gained a reputation for Pinot Noir wines, including regions such as Central Coast, Sonoma Coast, and Russian River, and South Napa. While California might be a little to warm for the Pinot Noir grapes, the cool breezes from the Pacific Ocean have made it a suitable place for the grapes to grow.

This is my second bottle of the 2018 Land of Saints Pinot Noir, which is from Santa Barbara County in Central Coast, California. I first had it 2-3 weekends ago and it was so easy to drink that I had to have it again to write about it. California Pinot Noir wines are typically rich and fruity compared to French Pinot Noir wines, which are typically more floral and earthy, and I think this wine is certainly on the bold and fruity side of the spectrum.

My tasting notes on the 2018 Land of Saints Pinot Noir:

• See: The wine has a very pretty ruby color and is medium-bodied.

• Swirl: It has very mellow legs - they are short and faint. The wine is 13.7% in alcohol, which is on the higher end of alcohol content for Pinot Noir wines which typically range between 11%-14%.

• Sniff: It has fruity aromas of cherry and raspberry with minerality and subtle notes of spice. As the wine opens up, there are also floral notes of rose petals.

• Sip & Savor: It's a young and fresh Pinot Noir with bright acidity and soft tannins. It's tarty and fruity with cherry and red berries. It's light and very easy to drink with a clean finish with mineral notes. Again, as the wine has a chance to breathe, there are floral notes on the palate as well. Overall, it's not really a complex wine, but a simple and delightful wine that will make you keep going for your next sip.