Wine Review: Claiborne & Churchill Pinot Noir 2007
Posted by Wine Welfare | Filed under $18-$20, California, Central Coast, Pinot Noir, Red, USA
Background
Claiborne & Churchill is a small winery in the Edna Valley of California’s Central Coast, a stone’s throw from Pismo Beach. We stumbled across this place after the recommendation from pretty much every other winery in the area:
“If you like whites, you need to visit Claiborne & Churchill.”
C & C is known for its Alsatian varietals, particularly Dry Riesling, Dry Gewurtztraminer, Pinot Gris and Muscat dessert wines. Their book of red varietals is also stellar and should not be missed. We highly recommend you visit them if you are ever in the Central California area, and be sure to ask about their “straw-bale house,” which houses some of their casks. It’s a house made completely of straw that has no heat or air conditioning; rather, it maintains the perfect temperature for storing wine at all times.
Color
Beautiful, clarified, red. Nothing too inky. Light, but with the expected juiciness.
Nose
Brilliant pepper, sour cherry, broccoli and dirt. Fantastic and complex, but with balance. Nothing outweighs another.
Taste
Well-crafted and absolutely delicious. This wine is not challenging but also not easy. It has complex flavors that pretty much match the nose, but with more dark fruit. Very well balanced with great, subtle fruit, good tannins that come on slow and linger. Great balance of heat as well, without overdoing it. Amazing, amazing Pinot that showcases the brilliant climate of California’s Central Coast.
With Food
Lamb, steak, pork, maybe even chicken, so long as your meat is either smoked or served with a form of black pepper. Spice-rubbed pork loin or filet mignon seems perfect.
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Also Check Out:
- Wine Review: Cycles Gladiator Pinot Noir 2006
- Wine Review: Au Bon Climat 2007 Pinot Noir Santa Barbara County
- Wine Review: BV Pinot Noir Coastal Estates
- Salmon Creek Pinot Noir 2008 Wine Review
- Wine Review: Cantus Pinot Noir
We keep things simple:
October 16, 2009 at 3:40 pm
[...] All the wines except for the Champagne come from a producer in the Edna Valley of California that we have reviewed only once so far. They are called Claiborne & Churchill, and we highly recommend you visit their winery [...]