Taft Street Pinot Noir 2006

Okay all you Pinot people, here is your screaming deal from the 2006 vintage. This modest wine from Sebastopol, California is hands down the only $15 Pinot Noir I've tried that allows for time travel the way a $50 Pinot might (minus some thunder, of course). The nose brings to mind mummified cherries from the Ming Dynasty with the dust and dirt of old trails long grown over. In the mouth the wine is fruit-forward with dried cranberries, strawberry jam and sour cherries wrapped around a core of dried leaf litter and old leather work gloves. Acidity and sweetness are in wonderful balance and the finish, while modest, comes back to haunt the palate with notes of nativity incense and well-worn wooden furniture. An altogether amazing achievement, considering the price. I catch myself thinking about this wine when I'm out of the house, which for me is a sure sign of the underlying subtlety and quality. Only Pinot does this, and only when the fruit and terrestrial components are in concert with one another. You can find this wine at Sunflower Market on Speedway. Avoid the 2005 vintage if possible, as it was a bit overdone.

My score: 88 (with another 4 invisible points for serious time travel)

Enjoy this wine with fatty, flavorful foods. Avoid heavy, sweet, acidic sauces and chocolate, all of which will dampen this wine. You want some fat in there to carry this wine to that secret 92 point rating.

Cheers!