Disclaimer: Don’t drink if you’re under 21, don’t buy alcohol for minors and always drink responsibly
I went into this week’s wine nearly blind. Some 95% of the time, my choices are based on what Total Wine & More is offering during their sampling hours. I grab what tastes good, is somewhat local and intrigues me. I have heard of Olema winery and they make a fantastic chardonnay that I brought home to Norway this past summer. My dad, who had recently fallen in love with white wine after a trip to Italy, was very glad.
Anyway, this week’s vineyard is about Olema pinot noir. I chose it kind of on a whim because it was recommended by one of the workers, and I loved the chardonnay they produced. Upon opening the bottle and letting it air for half an hour, I was a little surprised. It is a little bit untraditional compared to many of the other California pinot noirs I have reviewed. While the taste is good it’s almost a bit anonymous.
The aromas are easy to catch and produce scents like flowers and strawberries with a hint of citrus. This gave me great hope but as I tasted it, there was not much going on. It’s pleasant and tastes good, but there’s no taste that stands out. This is usually an indication that the wine pairs better with food. After my taste test, I had some food with a slightly spicy and acidic tomato-based sauce and I noticed a change. Something changed in the wine, there was a little more going on despite it still being fairly anonymous. The more acidic aftertaste came through, along with subtle notes of spices and cherries, which mix better with food.
It’s a good choice as a semi-locally produced pinot to drink, but I’m afraid it’s not going to be all that memorable. Therefore, this would best be paired with food such as beef, pork and chicken to really get the most out of the wine.
Olema is a winery based in Sonoma County and known for its chardonnays which I can confidently say are delicious. I will save more information on that for a later review.
This wine was voted a top pick at Total Wine & More and sells for $21.99. Despite it being labeled as a top pick, it’s not my first choice to buy again. Which is perfectly fine because thankfully we are all different, and while it wasn’t my favorite, it might be yours.
I would encourage you to try something new, and who knows, you might disagree entirely with my review this week.
Cheers!