Our California Pinot Picks
May 14, 2007 by Sean
Filed under Video Tasting Series
In the debut of Hinsdale Cellars’ Video Tasting Series (from Chicago’s Eno wine bar), HinsdaleCellars.com co-founder Sean Chaudhry describes a Failla Keefer Ranch Pinot Noir, followed by an AP Vin Rosella’s Vineyard Pinot release. He concludes by savoring a Melville Vineyards Estate Pinot Noir. Look for more insider tasting videos in the months ahead as we expand the scope of our content to assist your pursuit of a wine inspired life.
We showcase three exceptional California wines in the debut segment to underscore what legions of Pinot Noir connoisseurs already know too well. Great Pinot Noir wines share a number of broad attributes (structural balance foremost among them), yet there are wonderful distinctions that come through. With a tasting trio of Pinots, we examine the virtues of the California wine regions: Russian River Valley (Sonoma County), the Santa Rita Hills (Santa Barbara County) and the Santa Lucia Highlands (Monterey County).
The New York Times’ Eric Asimov this week acknowledged that his expectations were exceeded in a blind tasting — with a panel of experts — of 25 Pinot Noirs from California. “I count myself among those who have cast a skeptical eye toward many American pinot noirs,” he wrote. The panel included releases by A.P. Vin and Melville among their top-rated choices.
