Cambria Pinot Noir, Julia’s Vineyard, is a great buy that is sold widely in the D.C. metro area. You can pick it up affordably in Georgetown’s Dean and Deluca, a specialty retailer with a mission for offering only the best quality. You can also find it comparably priced around $20 at supermarkets, Costco, Bell Wine and Spirits downtown, and Total Wine.
Pinot Noir wines come in a wide-range of styles, depending on where the grape is grown and the winemaker’s techniques. The grape is originally from Burgundy, France where it is grown to produce some of the most expensive wines in the world that often have earthy flavors and sour cherry notes.
However, many new world winemakers have been experimenting with this thin-skinned, finicky grape, employing a variety of techniques to extract more color and flavor. Given challenges associated with growing Pinot Noir, it often costs more to get a good Pinot than it does with other grape varieties.
Cambria, offers both affordability and quality. The Cambria style is more approachable and more geared toward American wine drinkers. Rather than sour cherry or earthy notes, the 2006 vintage exudes aromas and flavors of plum, ripe red cherries, light spice and a touch of vanilla with a relatively short finish. It’s great for people who prefer a lighter, more delicate wine, but should be appreciated by wide variety of wine lovers. Try it with a summer salad composed of field greens, raspberry vinaigrette, strawberries, dried fruit, and goat cheese.
This wine is grown in Santa Maria Valley in California’s Santa Barbara County. The climate there is perfect for Pinot Noir because it has relatively cool, long summers, which allow the grapes to ripen well. One unique thing that makes Santa Maria special is the fact that the mountains run east and west, which channels in breezes and fog from the Pacific Ocean to moderate what otherwise would be a warmer climate. The area is also known for great Syrah, Chardonnay, and Pinot Blanc.
Originally published on Examiner.com.
