Well all know how "hot" Pinot Noir is right now, mostly because of the movie Sideways. It seems like every time I visit my favorite wine shops, there are more Pinots on the shelves from a variety of regions. My favorites usually come from Oregon and, of course, Burgundy.

This particular Pinot, I specifically sought out based on a recommendation from Jim Waters, winemaker and owner of Waters Crest Winery. He admitted one time, as we sipped his stellar Riesling, that he doesn’t typically like Pinot Noir…but that this one is a definite exception.

So, I drove to Stew Leonard’s in Farmingdale, NY specifically for this wine. Of course, I ended up with a few other bottles too.

Eyes: This wine is a deep red. It’s much darker and deeper than many Pinots I’ve tasted, with a good amount of extraction.

Nose: Very inviting and seductive, this wine’s aromas are filled with raspberries and cherries framed nicely by spicy, toasty oak.

Tongue: Delicious. Smooth and rich, it offers sweet berry flavors and a slight peppery character that I really like.  It’s definitely mutli-dimensional, with well-intregrated tannins and a faint cocoa flavor that I think makes this something special.

Price: $22

Overall: I have to remember to email Jim and thank him for the recommendation. I’d buy this wine again in a second…especially at 22 bucks. I’ve also spoken to a sommelier in Manhattan about the Spy Valley wines and he speaks highly of the Pinot Gris…so I guess it’s time for another trip to Stew Leonard’s.

Grade: A-