Good Morning!

Welcome to Tuesday's Open Thread where once a month we talk about wine. Specifically, wines selected for crew members at Trader Joe's wine tastings. Although I would love to invite you all to the actual tasting, my ability to conjure up a virtual one will have to suffice. To kick things off, I will be featuring some great Pinot Noirs we sampled last month that were both enjoyable to drink, as well as being a great value for the price. So, if you're looking for your next good wine, or just curious what we sampled, come join us!

“It’s a hard grape to grow, as you know. It’s thin-skinned, temperamental. It’s not a survivor like Cabernet that can grow anywhere and thrive even when neglected. Pinot needs constant care and attention, you know? And in fact it can only grow in these really specific, little, tucked away corners of the world. And, and only the most patient and nurturing of growers can do it, really. Only somebody who really takes the time… to understand Pinot’s potential… can then coax it into its fullest expression.~ Miles Raymond, from the movie “Sideways”

To Pinot Noir, with Love

Born in the Burgundy region of France, some might say Pinot Noir has enjoyed a superstar status. Romanticized in movies, celebrated in festivals thrown in its honor, this elegant wine has a fervent following among its wine drinking enthusiasts. A difficult wine to produce, Pinot Noir does better in cooler climates, but even those conditions can be challenging. With its very thin skin, it is sensitive to temperature fluctuation, fungus, mildew, and can sunburn easily. Because Pinot Noir yields are generally low, there is little room for error, making the finished product all the more desirable for those who love this wine. In other words, Pinot Noir wines are cared for, and nurtured, in a way few other wines are. Perhaps that idea, along with the silky flavors of the wine, is what conjures up such passionate feelings for this little grape.

Why is Pinot Noir So Darn Special?

One of the 10th most planted grape variety in the world, Pinot Noir has seduced both the serious wine drinker as well as the beginner. So why all the fuss? Well, for starters, Pinot Noir is about 1,000 years older than Cabernet Sauvignon. As old grapes go, they’ve been around since the Roman times.

The other distinguishing feature of Pinot Noir's specialness is the tannin. Mostly known for its lighter qualities, Pinot Noir actually has more tannin than we think. A technique called ‘Whole Cluster Fermentation’ essentially means the entire grape bunch, including the stems, goes into the crusher and fermenter. A wine making approach that is rarely practiced on varieties other than Pinot, the stems add tannin which you can taste as a drying sensation. The tannin also adds a longer “runway of life” for the wines to age, and is characteristic of high-end wines that people plan on keeping for several years before drinking.

And lastly, there's the classic Pinot Noir flavor profile. Which, depending on where the grapes were grown and their growing conditions, can widely vary. Broken down by region, a few of the more typical characteristics include:

French Pinot Noir is characterized as herbaceous, light with earthy aromas. Along with the earthiness, are faint floral smells of roses, violet and a smell of fruit that leans towards raw, freshly picked cherries.

California Pinot Noir are bigger, lush and more fruit-forward. Look for flavors ranging from sweet black cherry to black raspberry and secondary aromas of vanilla, clove, coca-cola, and caramel.

Italian Pinot Noir grows best across northern Italy where the climate is much cooler. The fruit flavors of Italian Pinot Noir are similar to that of France, but the earthy flavors lean toward smoke, tobacco, white pepper and clove. Pinot Nero, as the Italians call it, tend to have more color extraction and higher alcohol. ~

courtesy of Winefolly.com

The Perfect Pairing

A wonderfully versatile wine, the Pinot Noir brings rich fruit flavors to the glass in a mix of warm spice and earthy undertones. A perfect flavor combination for this stir-fried five spice pork dish. A little tangy, a little spicy, this entree demands a wine that can stand up to the savory flavors while complementing the fat of the pork. In the Pinot Noirs selected for today's tasting, I think we've found them. Bon Appetite!

Ingredients
1 tablespoon peanut oil
1 1/2 pounds boneless pork shoulder, outer fat trimmed and pork cut into 1/2-inch dice
1 small onion, cut into 1/3-inch dice
1 carrot, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced crosswise
1 celery rib, thinly sliced on the bias
3/4 teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder
1/3 cup canned whole water chestnuts, drained and coarsely chopped
3 tablespoons chicken stock or low-sodium broth
2 1/2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
8 basil leaves, torn into pieces
2 scallions, white and green parts thinly sliced
1/2 teaspoon Asian sesame oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
Iceberg lettuce leaves, for serving

Instructions

Step 1
In a large skillet, heat the peanut oil until shimmering. Add the diced pork shoulder and stir-fry over high heat until browned and just cooked through, about 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the pork to a plate.

Step 2
Add the onion, carrot and celery to the skillet and cook over moderate heat until tender, about 4 minutes, Add the five-spice powder and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in the water chestnuts, stock and hoisin sauce, scraping up the brown bits from the bottom of the pan. Return the pork to the skillet and stir-fry until heated through and coated with the sauce, about 1 minute. Remove from the heat and stir in the basil, scallions and sesame oil; season with salt and pepper. Spoon the pork into bowls and serve with lettuce leaves for wrapping.

And Then There was Wine

There are a great many things I enjoy about my job, but tasting wine is definitely in the top five. Which made having to forgo the wines we tasted during the month of September especially difficult. Nonetheless, I still had my notes from a tasting Christine, our Trader Joe's wine expert, selected back in August. While she chose a range of Pinot Noirs, each with its own flavor profile, I will be featuring only the ones I particularly favored.

TJ's Wine Profile: Deep-soaked vanilla, dappled richly in sarsaparilla root and clever layers of caramel candy, wild flower, and tangy rhubarb, makes a pretty introduction to a mouthful of delicate and spirited berry. And in the memory of lingonberry, blueberry and pomegranates, a slow, intoxicating prickle of chocolate truffle tannin will linger.

Blend Composition: 75% Pinot Noir, 5% Shiraz, 20% Proprietor’s Blend

Market Price: $7.99+

TJ's Price: $3.99

My personal impression: While TJ's can justifiably claim to be the purveyor of good wines at great prices, I wasn't expecting too much for a wine in this price point. How refreshing to be wrong. A little lavender on the nose, I also smelled cherries, vanilla, herbs, mushrooms, and a little smoke. Fruit forward on the palate, dry, with some complexities, this lovely little wine really can claim to be a great value for your money.

T.J.’s Wine Profile: A Trader Joe’s exclusive, this special wine has all the soft elegance of Pinot with the lush, juicy structure of a “dark” red wine. The winemaking team behind our Trader Moon series are experts at the dark, fruity profile that been seriously in vogue lately, and we developed them with a twist on the dark fruit formula: Black Pinot Noir.

Blend Composition: 100% Pinot Noir

Market Price: $10.99+

TJ's Price: $6.99

My personal impression: Earthy on the nose with a slightly jammy aroma. On the palate, it is velvety, medium bodied with vanilla, plum, and some oak notes on the finish. Slight spice as well. Medium tannins, not too overpowering. Well rounded and enjoyable. Just how I like it.

TJ's Wine Profile: Made from a blend of Pinot Noir grapes from the Russian River Valley, Sonoma Coast and Carneros, this vivid and alluring wine displays a beautiful bouquet of fresh-picked strawberry, raspberry and blackberry, with hints of violet and white pepper. On the palate, the tannins are soft and silky, carrying the wine to a long ripe berry finish.

Blend Composition: 100% Pinot Noir

Market Price: $25.00

TJ's Price: $16.99

My personal impression: Raspberries along with some oak on the nose. Dry with soft tannins on the palate. Hits the back of the palate first and works its way to the front with a medium bodied mouthfeel. Flavors of red berry such as raspberry, not very sweet with a slight bitterness. There are some earthy notes along with an oak finish.