LCBO Sale Wine of the Week: May 26

Ara Pathway Pinot Noir (Marlborough, New Zealand)

Sale $13.95, Regular $16.95
Discount (until June. 19): $3.00
LCBO # 416230 | 750 mL bottle

Tastes like: Bright cherry and berry flavours, a bit tart, but nice and clean.
Pairs with: Roast chicken, Cornish hen, trout and salmon, cheese toast, borscht, mushroom risotto, hot dogs (simple ones), meaty pizza with red sauce.
Good for: Pizza night, weekdays, a game of poker or darts.
Alcohol: 13%
Drink: Now.

Why we're drinking this
K, let’s be honest here. This isn’t a great wine. But you can’t expect greatness from a Pinot under $15. This is a pretty good Pinot Noir — it’s got all the aromatic elements of the grape and it’s easy to drink. Only Chile can deliver better Pinot at this price. New Zealand… well, that’s a hell of a long way away to go for wine so you’re kicking in for gas. They do make great Pinot Noirs in hobbit country — for $25 and up (way, way up). But for $13.95 (on sale). Hell, this is something to like. It’s pretty damn good for the cash.

Tasting note
Fresh, pretty aromas of red cherries and blackberries. That’s straight-up berry action. Green notes signal a bit of unripeness, but this is tempered by some nice herbal (dill, pine) and spice elements. It’s the same on the palate, with the addition of medium-plus acidity that might even be a little higher. You’ll need to like that brightness, as this wine is verging on tart. (But we like that, seriously.) There’s something funky here too — and again, this is a compliment. The alcohol is a bit light. The finish is medium, nothing crazy cool, but quite as expected. It’s a good wine.

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