Lucky Star Pinot Noir, California, 2008
COST: $9-11
WHAT: An unusually good pinot noir, especially at this price. It's silky smooth, with a rich, deep intensity, and an excellent sipping wine.
The wine is youthful, and doesn't have a lot of complexity, but it is one of the better pinots I have tasted in a long time.
It starts with a deep garnet color. Plum and black cherry aromas lead to a blackberry flavor, with a long, pleasant finish.
This probably will get even better over the next year or two.
WINERY: The winery is in Sonoma County, but the label says "California Appellation," so the grapes could be from anywhere in the state.
GOES WITH: I had this with fried chicken and baked potatoes, and it was a very nice pairing. It also would go well with grilled meats, light pastas and possibly some heavy salads laced with meat.
Reach Dennis Sodomka at dennis@bottlereport.com. Read his column on the best wines of the past year in the October issue of Augusta Magazine.
EVENTS
FRIDAY-SATURDAY
Wine fest, 4:30-6:30 p.m. Friday; weekend wine tasting, 1-6 p.m. Saturday, the Vineyard Wine Market
NOV. 5
Spanish wine seminar with distributor Avant Partir's Michael Hirsch, Vineyard Wine Market, 7 p.m., featuring top-rated wines from Spain
Martini dinner at the Partridge Inn, 2110 Walton Way, 6:30 p.m.; $35; each course paired with a special martini; call Ninth Street Wine Market, (706) 724-1442
NOV. 6
First Friday wine tasting at Wine World, 5-8 p.m., no reservations needed; six wines with cheeses, $4 with rebate on purchase of one bottle of a featured wine
NOV. 9
Casa Blanca Moroccan wine dinner, 6:30 p.m.; $50
NOV. 10
Zaca Mesa tasting at the Vineyard, 4414 Evans to Lock Road, Evans, 7 p.m.; $20, call (706) 922-9463
NOV. 12
Martini dinner at Partridge Inn, 6:30 p.m.; $35; call Ninth Street Wine Market for reservations, (706) 724-1442
NOV. 14
Holiday pre-sale tasting, 12-4 p.m. at Wine World; several suppliers will serve samples of some of their favorite wines; $10 in advance, $12 at door
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