For Pinot fans this is a dream come through. In case you’re not up on Pinot, it’s a lovely, lightish red that up till now you were best off forgetting about because of its two major drawbacks ““ limited availability, and high prices. Sure, you may have seen inexpensive Pinots on the shelves but they are poor understudies. The real thing is usually only found in specialty stores and at prices well out of the everyday. But the New Zealand producer Stoneleigh is changing that.
So what are the features of a good Pinot? Delicacy, vitality and delicious strawberry fruitiness that combine to charm your socks off. Pinot is also elusive, it flirts with you, it’s very playful. It’s the sweetheart, young cousin of Cabernet, Shiraz and all the other dark, manly reds.
Stoneleigh’s Pinot has Beaujolais-style lightheartedness and gulpability. A feeling that belongs with summer evenings on the patio with a side of salmon sizzling on the BBQ. And delaying supper for one more glass of this utterly delightful bottle. Other food partners could be simply roasted white meats. The sweetness of rosemary and spiceiness of cumin pair well with Pinot.
STONELEIGH 07 PINOT NOIR, Marlborough, New Zealand
54353 $19.75
