Brunellos Have More Fun

Yesterday, I attended the first annual Pinot Days tasting at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica. Pinot and airplanes- a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

I have to say, this event was very well organized. It was in a spacious venue, the tables were organized alphabetically, parking attendants made it a breeze to get in and out, outposts of bread and cheese kept a serious buzz and hunger at bay and plentiful spitoons were available. And they were constantly being emptied- a majorly important activity in my book. My biggest pet peeve at tastings is having hundreds of tasters’ mouth-rinsed wine remains splash up in my face as I spit into an overflowing bucket. Gross. Gross times 10.

On to the wine. I love Pinot Noir.  As do many people, especially after Sideways blew up everyone’s wine worlds. So, I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to taste newly released vintages from some fabulous pinot producers from California and Oregon or the ability to side by side compare these distinctly different growing regions. My friend Rachel and I were really digging the Russian River Valley and Central Coast Cali pinots. They tended to express more fruit and less minerality than their Oregon counterparts. And what I really love about pinot is the fruit and when that fruit is elegantly expressed.  Some may be surprised to know that there are definitely producers in Southern California making pinot noir that wouldn’t be likened to an oaky fruit “bomb.”

A few favorites of the day were the always well-reviewed Merry Edwards, sparkling king J Vineyards and hometown negociant La Fenetre. Some tasting notes or oft-repeated sentences from Rachel and I throughout the day: “well-behaved black cherry”, “raspberry preserves”, “this makes me want to cook”, “this makes me want to eat a steak” and “I’m hungry.”

If you don’t do a lot of wine tasting but plan on it in the near future, I would like to give a few tips from someone who does it often.

• Find out the producers that will be pouring. If a producer is unfamiliar, research them online. Make a list of those you want to see and go to them first.
• Eat a meal or snack before you go.
• Bring water.
• Don’t wear white.
• Don’t be afraid to spit. Everyone does it. And it is essential to being able to taste as much as possible and actually know and remember what you are tasting. Practice at home. It’s fun.
• Don’t feel the need to kiss anyone’s ass. You don’t have to say the wine is “great” and “delicious” if you really don’t think so. Just say thank you and move along.