2012 Line 39 Pinot Noir

I first tried the wines of Line 39 back in April and was delighted to give the Pinot Noir a sip and a swirl. I spoke in that post about the importance of latitude (from whence this wine gets its name), but lately I've been thinking a lot about terroir and how some of the more complex geology is due to meteorite impacts over the past several million years... Sometimes, we're not just drinking a wine, we're consuming stardust.

At $11, this one is a great bargain, and while it's not the most delicate Pinot Noir on the market, it is a fun sipper with a lot of great balance. If you're interested in the world of bargain wines, be sure to check out my pal Jon Thorsen's blog called The Reverse Wine Snob. It focuses on wines under $20, with occasional splurges on Saturday. I had fun hanging out with Jon in NYC and like his daily posts on affordable wines.

2012 Line 39 Pinot Noir
Central Coast, California
100% Pinot Noir
$11, 14.4% abv.
10,000 cases made

It opens up with a nose of ripe strawberry and earth, with a touch of pencil shavings. Mild and round with a little tannic bite on the finish. Full bodied for Pinot Noir, and one that will stand up well to heartier cuisine. It may sound like an odd pairing, but I really enjoyed this chilled and served with crispy fried chicken.

Note: This wine was provided as a sample.