Pinot Noir, the grape of the King of wines, Burgundy, is well represented in this duet.  Whether or not you’ve seen the movie “Sideways”, you’ll enjoy the fruity flavor of the Pinot Noir grape, the “lightest” of the red grapes, which often has overtones of ripe cherries or strawberries instead of the heavier blackberry, cassis, and chocolate flavors of the heavier red grapes.  Pinot Noir is absolutely the best (and only) wine to serve with salmon and is also enjoyed solo or in a duet with a mild goat cheese. 

1.   Rusack (2004) - probably the best domestic Pinot Noir our donor has tasted, this wonderful wine comes from Santa Barbara in California.  It is overflowing with flavors of strawberry and caramel and is remarkable in its finish- the duration of flavor that remains on the palate after the wine is tasted.

2.   Rutz Cellars (1999) - a wonderful wine from the Russian River Valley in Sonoma County, California.  A blend of red fruit, cinnamon, and sandalwood flavors tickle the nose and then the palate.  This wine is less fruit-forward than the Rusack and more in the style of French Burgundy.  You decide which you prefer- open them together and compare!