I choose a wine on a whim to share with our friends called Smoking Loon. I knew it was a risk; nevertheless the wine sounded fun and interesting. It turned out to be just that.
Smoking Loon Pinot Noir
One of the best things about spending time with good friends is sharing food and wine at our table. This Smoking Loon Pinot Noir greatly helped make for a lovely time with our friends.
Although this is a Chilean wine, Smoking Loon Wines are produced by Don Sebastiani & Sons Winery of Sonoma California. Don Sebastiani established the Smoking Loon Label in 2000 in honor of his father. He strongly believed that wine needed not to be taken too seriously. The Smoking Loon Wines and label are meant to provide a more tongue-in-cheek approach to enjoying wine. The named came from Don Sebastiani’s father, August who had a passion for cigars and waterfowl; thus the reason for the label that harkens to his father and his two passions.
Smoking Loon Pinot Noir 2012 is a product of Chile. Chile has been recognized for its unique geography and climate that offers up ideal wine-growing regions. The Central Valley of Chile is considered one of the largest wine regions in South America where grapevines thrive as a result of its location and the constant sunlight. Then the nights provide cold air that descends from the peaks of the Andes with temperature swings that provide the ideal environment for growing wine grapes. Then there are the eternal ice caps of the Andes that provide an abundant and unique water supply for irrigation. All this has culminated into providing a very interesting, fun and affordable wine.
This is what the winemaker has to say about their Smoking Loon Pinot Noir:
“Our wines are crafted for those with an appetite for adventure, those in touch with their inner loon, those who consider pretense simply unnecessary. Each vintage provides our winemakers the perfect opportunity to have a little fun and indulge their inner loon. They start by scouring the top wine regions of the world for the finest fruit. Then, they gently guide that fruit to its fullest potential, creating fruit-forward, well-balanced wines that offer a keen blend of approachability, quality and value.
Our 2012 Pinot Noir explodes out of the glass with raspberry and cranberry aromas, followed by rich notes of crème brûleé and nutmeg. Flavors of strawberry, red cherry, and pomegranate are complemented by delicate notes of vanilla and cedar. This medium-bodied, nicely balanced wine offers soft, velvety tannins and is a sure crowd pleaser. Enjoy with grilled pork chops or herb-stuffed mushrooms.”
This wine can be found at wine.com, totalwine.com, bevmo.com, Costco and any good wine purveyor.
It was a fun time all around for everyone. The wine certainly lived up to its name and flavors. One thing is for sure; the name greatly entertained my friends. The best part is, they also enjoyed the wine. You can’t beat that.
Time for a glass…
If you enjoyed reading this, check out J Lohr Vineyards Falcon’s Perch Pinot Noir, Fritz Winery Pinot Noir, and Mark West Pinot Noir.