Category Archives: Pinot Envy

Love & Gratitude: a Holiday Meditation

The upcoming holidays can be crazy busy (just drive by your local grocery store parking lot try not to shudder). It’s easy to get lost in the frantic chatter permeating so much of where we go and what we do. It’s easy to lose sight of the point.

Is the point to drink wine? Well, in part, yes. Because when you open a great bottle, it’s a like a little meditation. It begins with the twist of the corkscrew (or cap). Next the scent is released, then the gentle cascading pour into your glass sends a signal to the brain that it’s ok to slow down and just be in the moment. You breathe again and delight in the visual of the wine as it settles into the glass – you can get a little lost in its deep ruby color. You swirl, and then sniff – breathing in…and out. Maybe you do this a few more times as the wine opens. All this euphoria and you haven’t even had a drop to drink. Yet. Very meditative indeed.

Part of the fun of holiday wine is in the choosing. So many are out there but not to worry, you’ll find the right one. And even if you don’t, it’s all good. For all the posing that can happen with wine, there really are no wrong answers. Trust yourself.

For this year’s Thanksgiving holiday, we’ve chosen two wines that have been resting a while in our wine rack and now need to be enjoyed.

2021 Summer Dreams Stargazing Pinot Noir – This Pinot was a natural choice (HubbyDoug’s favorite wine style) and a great dinner partner for a traditional Thanksgiving meal. Nurtured in select vineyards from the Western Sonoma Coast, this is a beautifully nuanced, cooler climate wine. Cooler climate wines do not equal ‘meh’ or ‘ho-hum’; far from it. This is where a Pinot’s true beauty is often revealed . The Whole berry fermentation of this wine brings complexity and vivacity to its subtle nature. Flavors of dark fruit and berries, cherry pie and violets, along with a little allspice round out this profile. It’s a great traditional choice.

2014 Caduceus Monastrell – With its bold flavor profile, this could be called an ‘interesting’ choice for Thanksgiving dinner. Some skeptics might say that it’s way too overpowering. Monastrell (also known as Mourverdre) puts the ‘M’ in GSM wines. Typically, this can be considered a heavy hitter of wine; full bodied and tannic with deeply smoky, with flavors of blackberry bramble, tobacco, cocoa, black pepper. It pairs well with foods that reflect that: Barbeque and smoked meats. Think beefy Texan cookout rather than turkey with trimmings.

But part of being a wine student is the experimentation. My holiday table is my lab! And since there are no wrong answers in wine (lol) we’re giving it a try.

We discovered this Caduceus Monastrell on a trip a few years ago to Jerome, Arizona. We loved the rich and bold flavors of this wine and it was cool to try Monastrell on its own. Typically, it’s part of the GSM triumverate, blending beautifully with Grenache and Syrah.

Winemaker Maynard James Keenan, drummer and frontman of the bands Tool, A Perfect Circle and Puscifer, is a very hands-on vineyard owner; selecting the grapes himself and participating in the creation of his wines. His style involves both open top (which allows better temperature regulation, builds stronger yeast with more oxygen exposure, and the natural cap from the skins provides protection from outside elements) and submerged cap fermentation. It is then puncheon – aged (a larger cask that imparts little flavors from the wood) for 18 months in new and neutral French Oak. This ensures the purest expression of the wine with only the most subtle characteristics from its wooden casing. Powerful vino. I’m excited to taste what happens.

No matter what the outcome of our holiday wine experiment, it’ll be fun! We will meditate on both wines’ qualities and strengths.

The holidays are a wonderful time to reflect, to visit with family and friends; to give thanks and gratitude for the blessings we have.🧡

May you all have a safe and happy holiday season. And be sure to stop, breathe and savor each moment along the way.

Cheers!🍷

©️Copyright. The Wine Student. 2025

How I’m Spending Oscars Weekend🎞️📖🍷⭐️

To cap award season, I’m spending time with two of Hollywood’s finest: Francis Ford Coppola and Demi Moore. One, a past winner for The Godfather Pt II; the other, a current nominee for her tour de force performance in The Substance.

It’s pretty cool to be up close and personal with the big stars. Well… kind of, sort of. To mark the occasion, I dusted off a bottle of 2015 Director’s Pinot Noir that we purchased on an unforgettable visit to his Coppola Winery. Saving it for a special occasion, it’ll be perfect to enjoy as they hand out the gold hardware.

But before that, I’ll be hunkered down reading Moore’s book, Inside Out – her candid memoir about a life of fame, fortune and stardom amidst immense struggles. I’ve always loved her work and can name so many of her films coinciding with different times in my life. Ghost can still make me cry. Ditto?

So from now until the Oscars on Sunday night, I’ll be off the grid with a good book, then tuning into the broadcast with a great bottle of wine. And once the bottle is empty, I’ll be sure to thank the Academy…

Cheers! 🍷📖⭐️🎞️

©️Copyright. The Wine Student. 2025

Turkey Time Wine! 🍷🦃

Now I know you’re not going to have just a turkey on your table. But I wanted to keep it simple and spotlight the star of the show (though maybe it’s a featured player, as we all know the real star is you).✨

According to Food and Wine magazine, turkey’s rich flavor profile; light and dark meat, and its juicy texture matches well with a wide variety of wines and traditional side dishes.

Keep in mind that what’s good for the turkey is probably going to be good for the side dishes.

•Dry Riesling– OK… wait a minute, this isn’t the sugar bomb you think it is. Many have the view that riesling always equals cloyingly sweet. But this dry offering is the riesling you never knew you wanted. High acidity and plentiful minerality make this a most agreeable turkey companion.

•Chardonnay – Sometimes chosen because of its name recognition, Chardonnay can be a wonderful pairing with turkey. Crisp acidity, and fuller-bodied vibe make it a pleasure to sip. Old World offerings, particularly from France, are more citrus-forward with a stalwart mineral heart. New World Chards from the US, Australia and South America have a juicier, stone fruit vibe.
Hint: Add a little to the turkey as you baste.

•Gamay – The Beaujolais grape, but skip past the Nouveau and head straight for a more mature offering to enjoy. Pleasant high acid, lo tannin, and a satisfying grippy mouthfeel make this wine one of the best pairings with turkey.

•Pinot Noir – A classic, Pinot Noir’s playful flavors of cherry make this a great pairing for both turkey and your favorite sides. Pinots from France have a grounded, earthy, mushroom-y, tart cherry gravitas where New World Pinots brings forth a brighter complex cherry vibe. 🍒

•Viognier – An excellent, but not as well known match, Viognier’s whispers of honey and rich ripe stone fruit essences are wonderful with the tender turkey. Look for amazing offerings from Northern Rhone, South Africa and Australia.

•Zinfandel – Jammy, juicy and fruit forward, this wine is a boss pairing with both light and dark turkey meat, and many traditional Tgiving sides.
A big hit on turkey day, you might want to splurge and buy a couple of bottles. 😉

•Champagne – Bubbles and high acidity make this wine a merry treat to cut through the richness of the turkey and all side dishes.
And it makes your holiday table scape even more festive and fun! 🥂

When all is said and done, these are simply suggestions to dial back some of the guesswork when picking your wine. In the end, it’s really about sharing time with family and friends. And whatever wine(s) you choose to adorn your Thanksgiving table this year, I hope you have happy and healthy holiday!🧡

Cheers!🍷🦃

©️ Copyright. The Wine Student. 2023

Rose All Day… Or Is It??

I wanted to get this shot before the next summer storm cell rolled in. And when I opened this wine, I thought it was another lovely rosè to enjoy. But it isn’t. It’s a Pinot Noir Blanc. What’s the difference?

Some rosès are a blend of red and white wines. Some are made from fermented juice of red grapes with a small amount of skin contact. This Pinot Noir Blanc is produced from lightly pressed Pinot Noir juice from the whole cluster, with just a scant time in the French barrels before, and after fermentation.

Refreshing and flavorful, this Belle Glos Pinot Noir Blanc was wonderful treat to enjoy with my Swedish meatballs and incoming storm.

Cheers!

©️ Copyright. TheWineStudent, 2019.

Wine Wednesday: Maysara Jamsheed Pinot Noir 🍷😊

One of the best things about summer is getting together with friends for an amazing dinner and trying a new Pinot Noir! Featured for the evening: 2014 Maysara Jamsheed.

Cultivated in the Momtazi Vineyard located in the foothills of Oregon’s Coastal Range, these grapes have been given much TLC that is necessary produce top quality pinot. The temperatures in this particular region separates them from impact from the valley. Here, there are warmer days, cooler nights and lower precipitation during their harvest. Because pinot is a delicate grape to cultivate, this gentler microclimate is best especially in the days leading up to harvest.

Tea Time

Maysara’s philosophy is that “90% of winemaking takes place in the vineyard.” They believe in truly biodynamic cultivation – a ‘nature to nature’ credo. They shun the chemical approach  by the use of compost tea, made through the propagation of an assortment of medicinal flowers and herbs that are brewed into a steeped tea. Steeping extracts the most beneficial elements which are then worked back into the vineyard soil. This boosts optimum health for the soil, vines, and then the grapes.

What a Pair

Our wine was paired with an incredible dinner of fragrant lamb tangine, grilled root vegetables, and roasted cauliflower with yogurt mint sauce. The delicate balance of sweet and spice played beautifully with the spritely cherry, luscious blackberry, and light cracked pepper vibe of the wine. Since this was a ’14 vintage, it had just the right amount of aging to truly release its tender nuances. This pairing was outstanding.

I would like to eat this picture.

My thanks again to our friends, Judy and Greg, for a wonderful evening of fun, incredible food, and an amazing wine that is one of my new favorites of the summer.

Cheers! 🍷

Top Three Valentine’s Themed Wines!

It’s the weekend before the official love day, and whether you’re just celebrating you or love divine with your partner, thoughts ultimately turn to… wine!

Much like at Halloween, I noticed many labels this year sporting a serious Valentine’s vibe.

Here are three that caught my eye.

 

 

2014 Queen of Hearts Pinot Noir

Young and fruity, this Pinot has flavors of:

• Red fruit such as: strawberry, cherry and raspberry

• Cola- yes! Like the soft drink, this wine has that bright, effervescent mouthfeel (sans bubbles) that you find in cola. It made this almost refreshing in a way.

• Silky tannins

It pairs well with:

• Pullled pork, seared salmon/tuna

• Roasted chicken or duck

• Cherry flan

LO-VE Wines Garnacha

Originating in Spain, but imported and bottled in Napa, this is a 95% Grenach, 5%Tempranillo. What makes this wine unique:

  • Essences of lavender
  • Strawberry, raspberry
  • Liquorice with a hint of leather

It pairs nicely with:

  • Rich, lusty stews featuring pork or lamb
  • British pub classics such as shepherds pie, bangers and mash
  • Favorite winter go-to’s like mac and cheese

2016 Finca Pasion MiAmor Malbec Ihaven’t profiled this on my Malbec Monday posts so this was nice to find! As with most Malbecs, this features darker fruit characters with some spice and:

• Essences of plum, and a little strawberry

• Blackberry

• Clove and pepper for a little caliente

It’s dinner companions include:

• Beef or venison

• Chili con carne, fajitas, beef burritos

• Pasta bolognese or with meatballs

There are many great choices out there to help set the mood but remember this: If you can’t be with the wine you love, love the wine you’re with!

Have a fun and safe Valentine’s Day! ❤️🍷❤️

©TheWine Student, 2018

Holly Jolly

The holidays are the perfect time to spend with the ones you love, and that might even include some people. Ho ho ho!

I know, that was naughty but it stands to reason that especially during this time of year, we all like to add some new and special wines to our collections.

This year, we enjoyed a 2013 Goldeneye Pinot Noir. A gorgeous medium body Pinot, it had lush, full flavors of cherry, blackberry and pomegranate, while remaining grounded with an underscore of earthy mineral and leather. It had an enjoyable long finish, which for me is something I crave in a Pinot but don’t always find. It paired beautifully with our Christmas eve supper of steamed crab and traditional Tourtiere.

From their production notes:

“An extremely dry winter was followed by just enough spring rain to carry us through to a successful harvest. With very few frost days, the fruit set was excellent throughout our estate vineyards. To ensure a perfectly sized, well-balanced crop we were very active in fruit dropping. The remaining clusters were compact, with the abundant small berries that are perfect for high-quality wine. We started harvest 10 days earlier than normal, during a period of ideal temperate weather that allowed us to pick at a leisurely pace, while ensuring optimal ripeness. The resulting wines are marked by a complexity only achieved in cooler years with coursing acidity, beautiful high-toned fruit and nuanced minerality.”

Notes like this are always interesting to read; almost like peaking behind the curtain of what the harvest process involves, and why timing is everything, especially in harvesting a top quality Pinot.

I hope you are enjoying the holidays, and taking time to savor those moments with loved ones, both in and out of the bottle!

Next post: wine to ring in a brave new year. 🥂😁✨

Cheers! 🍷🎁🍷🎄