2010 Cornin Macon-Chaintre: A Sexy Springtime Sipper

It may be overcast and a little drizzly today, but last week it was warm and sunny and today marks the beginning of Spring. As far as I'm concerned, it's suddenly white wine weather and I couldn't be more excited about that (and all the other fun things that this time of year brings).

I have been enjoying some lovely French wines recently. I will always promote my home state and support my local vintners, but the wines coming out of France (and Italy and Spain, etc.) and their prices are very attractive indeed. Everyone loves a good value, especially with April 15th is looming in the near future (the unfortunate part about this time of year).

At $20/bottle, the 2010 Macon-Chaintre from Dominique Cornin is a tasty White Burgundy with beautiful fruit and fullness. Aromas of green apple, tangy tangerine, and white flowers greet the nose. Quince and lime zest dance along the taste buds with stunning acidity. The mid-palate and finish mellow out a little, giving way to deeper notes of butter and spice. Although it's not an "oak bomb" or super-buttery, it is rich enough to appeal to California Chardonnay drinkers.

This wine is incredibly refreshing yet voluptuous and pairs well with anything salty. Last week, it was a bag of root vegetable chips. This past Sunday night, it was a salmon fillet with asparagus and pesto pasta. Yum!

2010 Cornerstone Oregon Pinot Noir: awesome pairing potential

The ZAP Festival was fun, but I think my favorite tasting event of the year is Pinot Days. This year, it’s held in San Francisco on June 30th (I've already requested tickets). For this reason and more, summer can’t come soon enough!

At last year’s Pinot Days, I discovered many new wines, some of which I consider favorites to this day. I blogged about quite a few of the stand-outs on June 17th, but one wine in particular that continues to wow me is the Cornerstone Oregon Pinot Noir ($50/bottle; cornerstonecellars.com) sourced from vineyards throughout the Willamette Valley.

The most recent vintage, 2010, is a stunner with bright aromas of red berries, rose petal, cola, and sweet vanilla. Of medium weight and intensity, this wine flourishes in the mouth with notes of red cherry, currant, slight smoke, and dried herbs. Vivacious acidity and dusty tannins provide an intriguing texture and a long savory finish. With integrated oak and balanced fruit flavors, this wine is distinguished and ever so pleasant to drink.

*If you like Willamette Valley Pinot as much as I do, you will also want to check out this wine’s younger sibling, the 2010 Stepping Stone Pinot Noir ($30/bottle).

When I served the 2010 Cornerstone Oregon Pinot Noir at a dinner party two weeks ago, I prepared a simple meal of pork chops, cauliflower puree, and sautéed spinach to enjoy with it. The wine was delicate enough to not overpower the food and the flavors paired seamlessly. Had I poured a Cabernet along side this meal, it would not have worked.

Pinot Noir as a variety has so much food-pairing potential. Many Pinots are versatile enough to sip casually with cheese and crackers and complement many different dishes. Pinot Noir and pork is definitely a pairing I will enjoy again soon, but it’s also worth mentioning that Pinot is great with roasted salmon, turkey, and mushroom risotto.

What do you like pairing with Pinot Noir??

This bottle was received for review purposes from the Cornerstone Cellars. Please visit them in Yountville, California and Gaston, Oregon or online at www.cornerstonecellars.com. Cheers!