Tasting - "Grand Cru Pinot Noir"

• Name: Grand Cru
• Variety: Pinot Noir 
• Region: California 
• Country: United States of America
• Year: 2013
• Price: Regular Price $6.95
• Vintage Cellar Review: This ruby-colored wine has aromas of raspberry, cherry and a hint of vanilla. Flavors of cherry and plum lead to a soft velvety finish. This wine can be enjoyed by itself. It is also an excellent accompaniment with Brie, goat cheese and smoked salmon. Lamb shanks and pork tenderloins are a favorite main dishes to pair with this wine. 
• My review: This wine is a very nice deep red color. On the nose there is a very strong pepper smell that hides most of the other notes. There is a slight aroma of black currant mixed with blackberries; in addition there is an earthy mud smell that lightens up the pepper aromas. On the palate the wine is not as dry as I thought it would be. The wine is actually quite juicy and had some spices mixed in with it. It is hard to pick out fruit flavors in the wine as there is a very strong pepper taste that coats the palate and blocks out most of the other flavors. This wine would be nice with many different dinner since it is dry but not too dry.
• Food Pairing: I did not have any food with this wine.