Weekly Winedown #22 Bioletti’s Block Pinot Noir.

Welcome to the Weekly Winedown. Each week I selflessly drink wine for you and offer a review.
Please don’t expect anything professional, I consume a lot of wine but I’m no pro.

The only real ‘rule’ I’m putting in place is that the wine is to be under £8 a bottle. #keepitclassy.

Last week eh?
The wine was awful but the ‘live’ was good fun.
Erica and I really enjoyed doing it and I learnt a few things.
1) I need a time frame and a loose agenda.
2) I must not treat it like a night drinking with a friend!

I’m afraid you can probably expect more in the future!

For today, let us say ‘Hi y’all’ to Bioletti’s Block Pinot Noir.
“But Anna”
I hear you cry,
“You’ve already done this one!”

I forgive you for thinking that but no dear reader.
In week 15 I tried the Bioletti’s Block Merlot.
I went into it a cynic and came out of it a convert.
Despite my reservations about American wine, my mind was blown.

When I saw the Pinot Noir was half price I thought I’d give that a go, it’s got to be equally as amazing right?
Just putting it out there Pinot, you’ve got a lot to live up to.
Pressure’s on!

The label
Nice and simple in black, white and red-my palette of choice.
It offers the maker, the name and vineyards with birds in flight.
It is entirely unoffensive.

Unless you’re a farmer (which I am not) and the birds have trashed your crops (which they have not).

The blurb
“This Pinot Noir is deep ruby red in colour, with intense aromas of ripe black cherries and flavours of ripe juicy plum with a subtle hint of cinnamon. This wine is well balanced, with a soft silky finish, a perfect match to a roast pork loin.”

Cherries, plum and cinnamon, like winter in a bottle. At least I hope so.
The claim that this pairs well with pork, suggests to me that it’s a big flavour. Hopefully not as sweet and insipid as some can be.

If you’ve been following my Winedowns you’ll know Pinot Noir isn’t a favourite of mine.
Traditionally thin and sweet, it’s the exact opposite to what I like. I’m hoping that this offers something slightly different.

Sooooo. Expectations we high.
Probably a little too high.
No ones fault but my own.

The smell was lovely, cherry and spice. Perfect.
Like a disappointing date with Julio, it offered abundance but didn’t live up to the hype.
The taste was tart plum, the finish was warm but not enough to pull it back.
You can certainly ‘taste the sun’ but it has no place in this bottle.

It wasn’t the worst Pinot Noir I’ve had but it certainly wasn’t the best.
America, you make a good Merlot, stick to that.

Name – Bertolli’s Block Pinot Noir
Price – £5.99 (should be £11.99)
Colour – Ruby Red
Smell – Cherries and spice
Taste – Tart plums.
Goes well with – Salted crisps I should think.
Overall score – 2.5/5