'04 Hayman Hill Pinot Noir

[Innkeeper]

2004 Hayman Hill, Santa Lucia Highlands, Reserve Selection, Pinot Noir ($15 local supermarket). Alcohol level: 13.5%. This was a very nice Pinot. Picked it up at the last minute and probably paid too much. We had to change my plans for Mother's Day as I was going to smoke some baby back ribs. Well, it isn't a good idea to use an electric smoker in the rain, especially when the temp is less than 55 degrees F.

So we decided to go the Coq au Vin route. We had the onions and the Morgon. So we picked up a chicken, some salt pork, Crimini mushrooms, and this Pinot. Lots of red fruit on the nose and upfront. It had a very unpinot like body and complexity with tame tannin in middle, and a delightful finish. High recommended except for Bucko.

Despite the heft, it matched well with the chicken and its lardoons, onions, and rooms; along with petite peas, and baguette with EVOO and garlic. It all made for a very nice Mother's Day dinner for four.