This post is my contribution to “Pinot Moment” as created by Evening Land Vineyards.  The purpose of this December 9^th, 2010 social media event (#pinotmoment) is to get a flock of Pinot Noir fans to share their “Pinot Moment”, or the wine that got them hooked on this finicky, yet pretty darn perfect grape.

2005 Tantara Pinot Noir

For me, this wine is the 2005 Tantara Solomon Hills Vineyard Pinot Noir.  I’m a veteran of the travel industry, professionally, and as such, my business often takes me to Las Vegas.  Those trips west from the east coast are brutal: 3-hour time change, long tradeshow hours and late nights of entertaining clients.  In the fall of 2006, my team and I attended a conference at Mandalay Bay.  To me, a perk of being in that nutty town is the ever expanding list of top notch restaurants.  One of my favorites place to entertain is Alain Ducasse’s Mix atop THEhotel at Mandalay Bay.  Completely black lounge and perfectly contrasting white restaurant on the 64^th floor of the golden tower offers the most incredible view of the Strip while catering to foodies.

On that particular November evening, we were completely drained of all energy from the long 2-day tradeshow and were looking forward to a nice meal and a good glass or three.  I was handed the wine list and decided on a predictable Pinot Noir that I’d enjoyed a few times.  The sommelier asked if I’d be open to trying a new wine that he found particularly interesting that I might not find back in New Jersey.  He was so adamant about this selection that I agreed to sample it.  When he poured me a sip, the color of the wine was deep purple and somehow mesmerizing.  My first sniff caused me to close my eyes and the first taste was pure velvet perfection.  I wondered if I was simply tired, hungry and thirsty or if this wine was this fabulous, so had my team sample it.  My PR person actually said “Oh my god” and said it might be the best Pinot she’d had.  Needless to say, the sommelier got a fat tip from me and I got a great Pinot tip from him.

The sommelier was right, for a while, I wasn’t able to find Tantara in New Jersey.  A clever friend of mine got a California wine store to ship me a bottle for my birthday (not kosher in NJ) and I was later able to find it at one local store.

This, was my “Pinot Moment” and started my love for the grape.  Can’t wait to read everyone’s stories about my favorite varietal.

Cheers,

Veronique