Dinner with a good friend included 2 good wines to pair with the fine pizzas we ordered:
2006 WHITCRAFT WINERY BIEN NACIDO VINEYARD Q BLOCK SANTA MARIA VALLEY PINOT NOIR- knowing that this has been one of my all time favs, it was brought to share the love and love it got; two of the characteristics I’ve been especially fond of that are typical for this cool climate block are the intense spiciness and pepper notes accenting the ripe red raspberry, strawberry and red cherry fruit; this had the spiciness in spades, but there was just a subtle hint of the pepper; no problem; the wine was in perfect balance, had great feel and stayed a steady course throughout the evening.
2008 CASANOVA dI NERI TENUTA NUOVA BRUNELLO di MONTALCINO- from this producers highly esteemed single vineyard; following its inky dark ruby color comes loads of aromatics with wood spice, licorice, violets, plum and blackberry most evident, all of which continues on and is joined by tar, but no nicotine, on the palate; its complex and full bodied and yet has enough finesse to be easy on the palate with lots of grace.
Cheers,
Blake