Oh, those beautiful Burgundian varieties...

What I love about Pinot Noir is its food-pairing potential. Either light and earthy or rich and fruit-forward, the Pinot Noirs grown in California can pair with just about everything (roasted salmon, mushroom risotto, pizza, roasted duck, seared ahi tuna, lasagna or past, cheeses and charcuterie...the list goes on and on).

Last week, I went to Vin Antico in San Rafael and ordered the rabbit entrée. The meal was delicious, but the Cabernet Sauvignon that the server suggested was just too tannic for such a delicate white-meat dish. So I asked for a glass of White Burgundy, which paired perfectly with the rabbit as well as the sautéed corn on the plate.

The 2010 Louis Latour Chardonnay Montagny Premier Cru from the La Grande Roche Vineyard ($20/bottle; wine.com) is a pretty golden hue in the glass. It offers bright green apple and lively acidity on the palate. Medium-bodied, it has a creamy texture and a mineral-driven finish. It was also divine with the sheep’s milk cheese we enjoyed for dessert.

After dessert, we ended up at the restaurant's bar for a glass of Pinot Noir.

The 2010 LaRue Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir greets the nose with aromas of rose petal, violets, and sweet red fruit. On the palate, this elegant and flavorful wine delivers juicy red raspberry flavors, a silky-smooth texture, and nice complexity. Only 310 cases were produced ($68/bottle; laruewines.com).

P.S. This wine would have been an awesome match for the rabbit dish!!

That being said, this wine (like many Pinot Noirs) was delicious paired with nothing other than good company. For so many reasons, I am becoming quite a fan of Burgundy varieties...