Tasting Notes: Word of the Week “Elegant”

Beautiful, graceful, polished, and refined…. No we aren’t talking about the future Miss America, these are some of the accompanying words you’ll hear to describe an elegant wine.

And like a pageant queen tottering across the stage on six inch heels, one of the defining characteristics of an elegant wine is their amazing sense of balance. The “hard” components found in wine: acidity and tannins, balance the “soft” components: sweetness, fruit and alcohol.

In the broadest sense you can expect an elegant wine to possess subtle flavors that are in perfect harmony with one another. In order to keep the peace these wines exercise great restraint so that no one component is obtrusive or lacking.

The term elegant can also be used in reference to the wine’s mouthfeel or texture. An elegant wine will have no hard edges or harsh tannins and will be pleasing to the palate.

Want to open up a bottle of one of these  refined wines?

Our recommendation:

2013 La Pitchoune “English Hill” Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast

Wine Spectrum 95: A Wine Spectrum exclusive!  The 2013 English HIll Pinot Noir from Sonoma Coast is the most delicate and elegant of the newly released single vineyard wines from La Pitchoune. Located at a mere 400 foot elevation, this Pinot Noir is elegant but full of flavor. Notes of strawberries, cranberries, pomegranates and citrus rind blend together seamlessly with hints of sea breeze salinity. Well balanced acidity with smooth tannins, the finish is deliciously long. While this wine is more than able to stand on its own, pairing it with some food will set the tone and enhance any meal. Decanting recommended. Aged in French oak for 12 months. 100 cases produced.