Wine of the Month

Smoking Loon

2004 Pinot Noir

Don Sebastiani & Sons

Post Office Box 1887
Sonoma, California 95476
707-933-1704

 

Comment:

We were introduced to Smoking Loon at a party recently.  We'd seen it before, and fallen prey to the dread "Wine Snob" syndrome: we thought Pinot Noir wouldn't be very good at that price.  Obviously, we enjoyed the wine or you wouldn't see it here.

Following the sale of the Sebastiani winery in Woodbridge to Canandaigua Wine Company, Don Sebastiani and his sons started a new wine company.  They decided on an approach unusual in this country, choosing to be what the French call a negociant.  They own no vineyards, they grow no grapes, and they do not crush grapes.  Instead they search for wine available from other vineyards and blend it to create their own desired wine.  Smoking Loon is one of their brands, with a full line of varietals.

The downside is that you can not visit the winery.  They have no tasting room and give no tours to the public.  You can, however, drop by your local wine store and pick up a bottle to try it out at a very attractive price.

Winery's notes: Medium garnet color, rich cocoa, bing cherry and cinnamon toast notes. On the palate, this wine exhibits ripe black cherry and generous blackberry jam flavors, which finishes with supple cranberry, orange peel and all spice.