Pinot Noir

[rw35]

Hello All!

I recently took an interest in wine and decided to purchase a bottle of pinot noir. Unfortunately, I neglected to do research before the purchase (it was one of those "Gotta get it" moments *blush*).
I purchased a "Gallo Family's Gallo of Sonoma Pinot Noir" of Sonoma County. It says "2000 Reserve" on it too. What exactly does that mean?

Also, I just want to let everyone know that going through the message board and reading the posts was EXTREMELY informative. Thanks everyone [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/smile.gif[/img]

~Ruthie.

[winoweenie]

Hi RW 35 and welcome to the board. The wine you bought should give you an insight into the better wines available today as it's a neat wine for the money. Keep exploring.....Lots of wine, so little time! WW

[Thomas]

Don't let the name Gallo scare you. Aside from their crummy low-end so-called wines, this company can produce some of the best California wines at some of the best values. In fact, Gallo has spawned a host of great California winemakers and wine marketers.

As for the word "Reserve" on the label; it has no identifiable definition in the U.S. but it often means the wine is selected by the producer for a personal reason, and it often means the wine will have been aged in wood.

[rw35]

[img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/smile.gif[/img]

Thank you all for answering my questions. I'll be sure to keep trying. Just to update, we (my fiance and I) tried the wine before our meal and it had a rather mild taste (sorry, I lack the terminology); however, after the meal (pasta with diced tomatos, mushrooms, string beans cooked lightly in olive oil), the wine had a stronger, more bitter taste. I don't know if that's supposed to happen, but after the experience, I now have a better understanding of how wines and food can and should match up!

Could anyone suggest another name/brand for Pinot Noir? Also, the meals we eat are vegetarian, are there any wines that we would want to pay special attention to?

Thanks in advance for your responses!

~Ruthie.

[Innkeeper]

Hi Ruthie, at the lowest price point for quality pinot ($10-12), try Villa Mt. Eden, California, Pinot Noir. At the next level up look for Frei Brothers, Russian River Valley, Pinot Noir. Pinot goes very well with vegetarian meals unless they get too hot, as many do. Zinfandel can tame the hot stuff. I like Ravenswood Vinters Blend for an entry level zin.

[hotwine]

Ruthie, for a low-priced French Pinot Noir, see if you can find Maison Nicolas, a Vin de Pays d'Oc (a "country wine" from the Languedoc region). At the give-away price of $7.99, it's really hard to beat.

[Thomas]

For vegetarians, the sauce and spices are important to the wine. So, you want wines that can stand up or play in harmony with whatever sauce and spices you use. A couple of wines that generally pair well with vegetarian dishes: Dolcetto (red) and Gruner Veltliner (white).

Incidentally, I generally wouldn't use Pinot Noir to pair with tomato sauce.

[rw35]

Thanks again [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/smile.gif[/img] I'm going to try to find another bottle soon and hopefully I'll pair it better this time [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/wink.gif[/img] I'll update afterwards!

~Ruthie.