Mark West Black Pinot Noir

Mark West Black Pinot Noir is a Pinot Noir bottled under a Massachusetts appellation, which makes it an uncommon find on a shelf where most Pinot comes from California, Oregon or Burgundy. Pinot Noir is a thin-skinned red grape, and wines made from it usually run lighter in colour and body than Cabernet or Syrah. Expect red cherry, raspberry and cranberry fruit, sometimes with a touch of dried herbs, forest floor or baking spice. Tannins in the style are typically soft and fine-grained, and acidity is bright, so the wine tastes fresh and carries well across a meal. Oak influence, if present, is usually restrained and shows as light vanilla or toast. The finish tends to be medium in length, with the fruit fading cleanly rather than lingering heavily. These are expectations for the grape and style, not a measured profile of this bottle, so treat the first glass as the real tasting note. Pinot Noir is one of the more flexible reds at the table. Roast chicken, duck breast, pan-seared salmon and mushroom dishes are classic matches, and so are pork tenderloin, lentil stews and burgers with a modest amount of sauce. The acidity also handles tomato-based pasta and cheeses such as Gruyère, brie or aged cheddar. Skip very heavy, heavily spiced or char-forward dishes, which can overwhelm a light-bodied red. For serving, aim for roughly 55 to 60°F, which is cellar temperature. That is about 15 to 20 minutes in the refrigerator before opening if the bottle has been stored at room temperature. Serving it too warm exaggerates alcohol and flattens the fruit. Decanting is not necessary for a wine in this style, though pouring it into a decanter or swirling it in the glass for ten minutes can open the aromas if the first pour seems tight. A large-bowled glass, the kind sold as a Burgundy or Pinot Noir glass, gives the aromatics room and directs them toward the nose. A standard red wine glass works fine in its place. Most Pinot Noir at this kind of bottling is made to be opened within a few years of release, and nothing in the product details suggests a long-cellaring wine. Plan on drinking it soon, and store it on its side in a cool, dark spot until then.