As my palate and I mature, I find myself less interested in the big & bold wines and fine myself drawn toward medium-bodied wines — wines that have more nuance and tend to be more food-friendly. And in talking with other wine drinkers I’ve found that I’m not alone.
I’ve noticed younger wine drinkers in their 20’s tend to be more attracted toward bigger, fruit-forward wines that are totally in your face. It’s not surprising. After all, many of those in their 20’s are only a few years past the days when they were drinking Koolaid and Juicy Juice. And I don’t mean that as a derogatory comment. That was me many years ago too. The point I’m making is that our tastes definitely evolve as we age and as we are exposed to more foods and wine.
And that’s not to say I don’t sometimes still crave a big, fruit-forward wine. But more often then not, medium-bodied is the choice for me these days. As such, one of the wines I gravitate toward these days is pinot noir. But finding good, cheap pinot noir can be a huge challenge.
I sometimes look for French pinot noir from regions other than Burgundy, because Burgundy often comes at a premium price but pinot noir from other parts of France can be just as enjoyable yet much more affordable. And another often overlooked region for fantastic pinot noir is Germany.
Undone is one such pinot noir. It comes from the Rheinhessen region of Germany, which is the largest wine region in Germany. It is an unoaked pinot noir, which gives it a light refreshing character. It’s not one to tuck away in the cellar to age, but is meant to be consumed now.
The nose is very pretty and fresh, delivering violet, plum, raspberry and herb aromas. On the palate it’s crisp and delicious, offering plum, raspberry and cherry flavors with a nice, stony mineral undertone. That mineral really comes to life on the finish, along with red berry flavors. The mouth feel is nice and the acidity is perfect. I absolutely love this pinot noir and the bargain price of $11 makes me love it even more.
Wine: Undone, Pinot Noir
Variety: Pinot noir
Vintage: 2012
Alcohol: 12%
Rating: 90
Price: $11.00
Disclosure: This wine was received as a media sample.
