Pinot envy

Pinot Noir has become my favorite red varietal.  It all started about two years ago when we visited Sonoma Valley on vacation.  We tasted hundreds of wines, and a large fraction of them were Pinot Noir.  Last November we returned to Sonoma and stayed in the Russian River Valley....Pinot heaven!  Our favorite vineyard for Pinots was Moshin vineyards, a small, family winery outside of Healdburg.  Here is a bit of info from their web site.

"Moshin Vineyards and Winery began in 1989 as the dream of Rick Moshin, a San Jose State University math instructor – and with the Moshin Family’s purchase of a ten-acre Pinot Noir Vineyard located in the Russian River Valley of Sonoma County, California. The Moshin Vineyards of today features a unique 4-tier Gravity Flow Winery and control of 28 acres of grapes – mostly Pinot Noir. The tasting room is open daily to the public and tours of the winery can be made by appointment.

The goal at Moshin Vineyards is to carefully guide the grapes through the winemaking process and bring you a wine that expresses a truthful view into the heart of the vine. Our farming methods are sustainable, winemaking philosophy is “minimally invasive,” and we have established energy-saving practices through the use of gravity-flow and solar energy.

We specialize in small lot, hand-crafted wines, which include Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Merlot, Petite Syrah and Zinfandel. Wine Club members enjoy our most exclusive lots, making membership a fun and special way to experience the artistry and dedication of our winemaking team."

http://www.moshinvineyards.com/index.cfm?method=homepage.showpage

They have a nice, intimate tasting room.  We enjoyed the wines so much we joined the "pinot only" wine club.  My selection this week is their 2008 Morris Ranch Sonoma Coast Pinot noir.
Appearance:  Typical Pinot noir...medium red, clear with moderate legs (14.4% alcohol)
Nose:  Awesome!  Earth, leather...very complex, dark red fruit....maybe curant.  I almost don't want to taste it!
Taste:  Smooth, well balanced, more red fruit (as expected), just the right amount of acidity.  In a word "elegant".  I don't really get the earth or leather on the tongue, maybe after it breathes a bit.  There is a nice finish with a hint of vanilla and a very long, lingering berry flavor.  Ahh, there is a bit of earth coming through...nice.  Great wine for sipping, or served with salmon or turkey.

Rating:  I decided not to do the whole WS number grade....so I'll call it excellent!