6/23/2020 - sfwinelover1 Likes this wine:

First of 3 ($35@) from online wine clearinghouse #2; my first Gavin Chanin wine. Opened with 1 oz pour, then let sit for an hour+. On the nose and palate, bright cran-cherry, red raspberry, dry earth, smoke, dried spice (distinct from baking spice), rose petals, and a little bit of pomegranate, tomato and blood orange. Medium ruby, light to medium bodied, light legs. Bracing acidity which integrated just a little over time, light tannins, no heat (in fact, the 13.5% abv was positively refreshing). Moderate complexity, persistence and intensity. Lovely pinot, definitely on the savory side, great complement for stuffed pasilla chilis. The flavor profile of this wine--savory rather than sweet (if not Burgundian, per se), lower alcohol, high acidity--is closer to my preferences than many of the other "bigger" pinots. Drinking very well now, this wine should age well for at least 5 years, if you prefer your pinots more integrated. As an aside, this is another in the line of VG/VG+ pinots I've had that fall short of transcendence. While that isn't this Lutum's problem--expecting transcendence for $35, I suspect you'll be disappointed more often than not--my search continues, and CT readers who have suggestions for especially good pinots, ideally at the $75- price point, will find a welcoming reader here for their suggestions.