2006 Bohème Pinot Noir, "Taylor Ridge Vineyard" Sonoma Coast

Ah the holidays are back, and my red wine choice to accompany a nice turkey, ham or lamb is naturally a great Pinot Noir. This season I am picking the gorgeous 2006 Bohème Pinot Noir, "Taylor Ridge Vineyard" from my neck of the woods on the beautiful Sonoma Coast. So for tonight, let's omit the turkey and cook lamb as a prelude to my next post featuring another Sonoma favorite (white) wine with our terrific bird of the season.

The Taylor Ridge Vineyard grows atop a bluff just a little over five miles from the Pacific Ocean. In the summer, cool air and fog move into the vineyard from Tomales and Bodega Bays allowing the vines to slowly metabolize soil nutrients and gently ripen their fruit. This is great for Pinot Noir, as the fairly temperate climate near the Sonoma Coast is nearly always conducive to creating wonderful elegant, but extracted wines. Add a warm harvest season with added hangtime and the ingredients for sensational Pinot exist. This was the 2006 vintage.

From the glass, the Boheme Pinot Noir has aromas of bright cherry and caramel. Super luscious plumbs and dark fruit fill your nose. This wine is going to be super juicy. A sure sign winemaker Kurt Beitler has made Syrah in his former life.

The palate is sophisticated and elegant, yet it is more syrupy and extracted than most. Fresh, thick, full of almost Syrah-like qualities but still retains a little of that classic Pinot finesse. Full of fruit, juicy, thick. Plenty of spices, earth, and fruit, fruit fruit.

Yummy if you like them big. 190 cases produced.