What do you get when “the best young sommelier in America”, according to the New York Times, starts making wine? You get what we like to call “the good stuff”, and this is one impressive Pinot Noir from the great 2009 vintage. Michael Bonaccorsi was sommelier at Spago Beverly Hills andhe is one of just a few Americans to be awarded with a Master Sommelier Diploma. He and his wife founded Bonaccorsi Wine Company in 1999, and the awards and critical praise have followed. Their specialties are Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from vineyards in and around Santa Barbara County.
These wines are not easy to come by folks, as we’re typically talking less than 500 cases produced, but I got my fair share on this one — I ordered as much as the distributor would give me (7 cases out of the 20 that North Carolina got!). The nose of the wine had me smiling immediately, as it was all lovely, rich, balanced Pinot fruit – think ripe cherry, rhubarb and plum. Once the wine hit my palate, I knew I was tasting something really special – ripe, supple and velvety, the wine combines power with elegance and offers up notes of ripe Bing cherry, raspberry and strawberry fruit, along with notions of earth, spice and cedar. The wine will land this Friday, and if you are a Pinot lover, you should really consider this one!