I haven't posted a tasting note for a while, I have had the flu and I have been quite busy due to an unexpected but thankfully easy to deal with issue at work.
Around 2 weeks ago, all the family in Sydney got together to have a dinner to mark Samantha being 1 month old. Some of the people in my family don't really like complex wines so I had to choose carefully. I also didn't want to spend a lot of money either as there are some people that I feel don't apprciate wine and would not mind if it was a $6 bottle of Lambrusco. So, I selected a ready-to-drink Pinot Noir from Paringa Estate on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria that cost $24 a bottle - the 2004 Peninsula Pinot Noir.
It turned out to be a wine that everyone enjoyed very much and went down as a great success. The Pinot Noir (14.6 % vol.) is made from 100% Mornington Peninsula Pinot Noir grapes. The rich red/purple colour of this wine is fantastic and left a vivid purple colour on the side of the glass as I swirled it around. I found it's palette ranging from plums to cherries with a hint of coffee. There is also a subtle taste of oak which added to the taste and smell sensations of this wine.
The tannins are very soft and smooth which made everyone enjoy this delightful, very easy to drink wine. I think this wine would also go very well with turkey, pork or italian style red meat meals like Osso Buco or Polpette (meatballs).
If the Peninsula Pinot Noir is the entry level Pinot Noir offered by Paringa Estate, then the Estate and Reserve series must be completely outstanding! I can't recommend this wine enough - I'm off to get another 6 bottles before there all gone!
