Peay Vineyards 2002 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

Peay Vineyards for all intents appears to be the culmination of the American Dream for three people. Vanessa Wong, the winemaker, and Nick Peay and Andy Peay, the growers and probably all around worker bees... (Note: Label shown is not the year reviewed, but I have ordered some!)

I first heard about Peay from a San Francisco Chronicle article several years ago that was about the new wave of up and coming wine makers. Vanessa Wong was one of those winemakers. I e-mailed about buying some wine and Andy,who apparently lived in S.F. at the time replied, said send a check, since that was all they took, and he could deliver the wine to my work in The City. Talk about service! Since then I have made it a point to buy at least some of the Peay production. And what a production. Vanessa started out making quality whites including Chardonnay, Viognier, and Roussanne/Marsanne. They expanded to include Syrah and Pinot Noir. And while the white wines Ms. Wong makes are in a category of quality and taste that few people have successfully made, her reds are in a class all their own.

Tonight I was planning another great salmon fillet from Bryan's Foods in Corte Madera, (another great find) so I decided a Pinot was in order. Not just any Pinot. A great Pinot. Because if I have not made it clear before, I will now. There is no cheap Pinot Noir that compares to the real deal. High end Pinots are something to behold. Full bodied, full of flavor, with ripe berries, cherry, some coffee or toastiness brought in by the judicious application of lightly charred oak. Smooth and silky, a great Pinot is like a teddy. (Not the bear.) wonderful to behold, and a delight to drink in. There ya' go!

The Peay '02 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir is a testament to the the belief that wine enjoyment is 90% smell and 10% taste. There is so much to take in from the glass with the nose, that even when the glass has been emptied, putting my nose in for the smell provides a euphoria not found in many other things.

Just think Miles in Sideways, you know what I'm talking about!

And the finish, what lingers on the tongue after you take a sip of wine... It's like that pink rabbit with it's drum set. It keeps going and going and going, ....

Have I made my point?? The first sip said "buy more, buy more", so I did... You can get yours too if you hurry... About $48 direct plus tax and shipping. Less for some whites when available. (All sold out right now.)

You can add this to an ever growing list of fine Pinot producers, which shall remain nameless so I can get mine. Find your own!