2007 Fess Parker American Tradition Reserve Pinot Noir (91 Points)

DATE CONSUMED

Friday, September 30, 2011

VINTAGE

2007

WINERY/PRODUCER

Fess Parker

WINE NAME

N/A

TYPE OF WINE

Red

COMPOSITION

100% Pinot Noir

SUBNAME/NICKNAME

American Tradition Reserve

VINEYARD DESIGNATION

N/A

REGION/A.V.A.

Santa Barbara County

ALCOHOL CONTENT

14.5%

PRICE PAID

On sale from the winery’s wine club for $25 (normally $35) ($29.34 including sales tax and shipping)

WHERE/WHEN BOUGHT AND HOW PROCURED

September 2011 from the winery’s wine club

BOUQUET

The bouquet on this wine has a very nice, floral, fruity, spicy, earthy essence, just like any other self-respecting Pinot. 

TASTING NOTES

Oh yeah, this is definitely a Santa Barbara County Pinot!  This wine has that classic herbaceous, Santa Maria-area terrior, exhibiting beautifully-balanced red fruit (raspberries, cherries, and suggestions of strawberries and plums), a Farmer’s Market quantity of herbaceous herbs (oregano, thyme, rosemary, sage, along with a bit of white pepper (basically, practically an entire spice cabinet)), with significant amounts of earth/terrior (this wine truly exhibits Santa Barbara County terrior), the perfect amount of oak, a bit of cream and richness, and finishing with a smoothly tannic, acidic finish. 

My first impression upon first sip was that the fruit(s) used for this wine came from the Santa Rita Hills, which also has a very unique/signature terrior.  But once the wine opened-up, it became clear that most, if not all, of the fruit came from Santa Maria and/or other parts of Santa Barbara County.  Whereas some Pinots have mostly a red fruit flavor profile (a strawberry-inflected Burgundy or a Pinot from others parts of California), and while others exhibit all spices and earth (Russian River Valley, New Zealand, etc.), this Pinot is beautifully well-balanced with fruit, spice, earth, oak, and that certain “je ne sais quoi” that screams “This Pinot is from Santa Barbara County!!!!!” For a sub-$30 bottle, this is a fantastic bargain.

PAIRING SUGGESTIONS

We paired this wine with a Mario Batali appetizer of crostini covered with a schmear of a paste consisting of olives, garlic, pine nuts, and olive oil, accompanied with a mushroommy ragu.  The wine only went “ok” with this appetizer, thanks mostly to the acidic nature of the tomatoes in the mushroom ragu.  This wine would pair much better with salmon smothered in sea salt, freshly-cracked black pepper, and Herbs de Provence, along with most pork, chicken, scallop, and red meat dishes, as well as duck, foie gras, and other savory French meat dishes.

AGING POTENTIAL

This wine is drinking beautifully right now and should continue to drink well for another five years or so.

SCORE

91 Points

Q.P.R. (QUALITY-TO-PRICE RATIO) (POOR, FAIR, GOOD, EXCELLENT)

Regular price:  GOOD

Sale price:  GOOD-EXCELLENT