pinot tasting.

This morning I am headed to San Fransisco for the 8th Annual Pinot Noir Summit‘s final pinot tasting.  Here I will be judging 8 different flights of pinots with many other Bay Area wine bloggers, educators, sommeliers and other wine industry types.  Together we will be picking the top 40 pinots for consumer, press and trade to taste at the official Pinot Noir Summit on Febuary 27th in San Rafael.

In an email I received from Barbara Dardy, a list of aromatic characteristics of pinots was provided.  Below are some of flavors that make pinot my favorite wine!  Let me know if any of your favorite characteristics are missing.

AROMATIC ELEMENTS OF PINOT NOIR

Cherry Raspberry          Raspberry Jam          Strawberry

Strawberry Jam          Pine Pitch          Orange Peel          Oak

Violets          Peppermint           Tangerine         Coffee

Chocolate          Cinnamon            Earth          Cedar

Grapefruit           Barnyard           Black Cherry           Quinine

Coca-Cola           Smoke           Pomegranate          Rhubarb

Cranberry          Tea           Roasted Tomato          Blackberry

Blackberry Jam           Wet Leaves          Mushroom           Vanilla

Plum Licorice           Rose          Mint

Red Currant           Dried Cherry          Clove          Lavender

Herbs de Provence           Black/White Pepper           Leather           Tar

Soy Sauce           Blackcurrant (Cassis)