The mysteries of Pinot Noir

With its inherent instability, susceptibility to frost and proneness to disease, it is often a miracle of nature that this intriguing grape varietal gets to the state of perfection necessary to produce the prized Pinot Noir rare wines. The grapes are both temperamental and fragile and the resulting taste combinations are complex, unforgettable. The flavor that expertly rides the fine line between robust and delicate, between decadent and delicate, and between fruity and spiced stands as a perfect analogy to the balance the vintner must strike in order to nurture these vulnerable grapes to maturity. When that balance is struck, the result is pure magic. It is that mysterious and magical journey that makes this wine a perennial favorite among red wine enthusiasts.

Experience the joys and complexities of Cheval Blanc, Cabernets, Sauternes, Champagnes and other vintage wines through Golden West International's top quality selection.

Unlike the Pinot Noir, which is best when consumed within eight years of vintage, the sweet dessert wine born of the Semillion grape ages gracefully and grows richer and sprightlier in its character as the years roll on. Lovers of this prized variety enjoy rediscovering it each time the bottle is opened, as it matures and evolves. The fruity, young lovely you first fell in love with becomes, many years later, the sage yet supple companion without whom no gathering would be complete.

This wine is a star player, boldly lingering on the palate even as other white varieties are long forgotten. To sit back with sippable Sauternes over a light dessert salad, pungent cheeses or dark chocolate is a transcending experience.