What Kind of Wine Is DeLoach Pinot Noir?
DeLoach Pinot Noir is a light-bodied red wine from California. Not just that though, it is among the top 8% of all wines in the world. As the name suggests, the wine is made from one of the oldest grape varieties, the Pinot Noir. If you didn’t know, these grapes originated in France and have been used in wine-making since the first century AD. Here’s another fun fact. The Pinot Noir was a top choice by the Church and Catholic priests as a Sacrament wine. Pinot means ‘pinecone-like’, whereas Noir suggests a dark grape.
The grape requires a relatively cool climate in which to flourish. While California is often considered synonymous with heat, the Pacific Ocean fog lends coolness to the Central Coast, making it the perfect vineyard for the Pinot Noir. The Pinot Noir grapes have a subtle flavor—but they borrow a lot from the soil in which they are grown. California, or more specifically Sonoma County, has over 30 soil types, 18 micro-climates, and 11 land formations. The DeLoach Pinot Noir wine gets its mineral flavors from the Russian Valley ‘terroir’—sandstone and sandy loam. Let’s now take a look at our Deloach Central Coast Pinot Noir review.
DeLoach Pinot Noir Central Coast Review
- Winery — DeLoach
- Country/Region — United States, Central Coast, California
- Type — Californian Pinot Noir
- Aroma — Strawberry, Bing cherry, Hint of Violet
- Grapes — Pinot Noir
- Taste — Cranberry, Bing Cherry, Cardamom And Other Spices, Oak
- Alcohol Content — 13.5%
- Sugar — Dry
- Pairing — Beef, Veal, Game, Poultry
DeLoach Pinot Noir is a dry red wine from the Central Coast of California, USA. Made from world-renowned Pinot Noir grapes explicitly from DeLoach vineyards, this wine is both charming and delicious. The wine is packed with subtle aromas of fruits and spices. As the wine opens, you’re greeted with a warm cranberry that quickly softens into a Bing Cherry-like flavor. There are hints of spices in the taste palate as well that are often easy to miss. Did unexpected guests drop by for dinner? Not sure how to impress them? Break out a bottle of DeLoach Pinot Noir and let the wine’s charm do its magic.
Tasting Notes
DeLoach Pinot Noir is a crimson wine with flavors of ripe, red fruits like plums and cherries. You’ll also perceive hints of violet and spice. It is a lively wine with a lingering mineral and peppery finish, which only adds to its charm and demand. With soft tannins and a short to medium finish, the DeLoach Pinot Noir has a very light mouthfeel.
Appearance
The wine is a deep crimson color, which suggests a luscious texture and presence of dark fruit. As the wine swirls in your glass, you can see the clarity of the wine—it is not cloudy or suggestive of sediment. It is a bit of a leggy wine, though. But when you consider DeLoach Pinot Noir has an alcohol content of 13.5% per average serving of 25 ounces (750ml), then legs are expected.
Aroma
DeLoach Pinot Noir has a subtle but complex aroma profile. The wine is simple, with notes of cherries, raspberries, a hint of violet, and spices. With its complex bouquet, this wine makes for a perfect conversation starter.
Taste
Similar to its aroma, DeLoach Pinot Noir has a delicate and subtle taste palate. You’re greeted with a warm hint of cranberry that quickly softens into a Bing cherry-like flavor. You’ll find flavors of raspberry, cardamom, and oak tingling your palate as well. Tannins are present but barely perceptible until the finish kicks in.
Finish
The succulent flavors mentioned above spread across the palate. DeLoach Pinot Noir has soft tannins, which results in a short to medium finish and dryness on the tip of the tongue. Not for long, though. Tartness and a little zest hit a few seconds later, and you get a nice balance. Overall, it has a well-structured and mouthwatering finish.
Rating
DeLoach Pinot Noir is an enjoyable wine, it has a beautiful balance between its taste, texture, and finish. There is an element of surprise that comes with being greeted with a warm cranberry flavor in a Pinot Noir wine. But it is a good surprise. It is almost impossible not to recognize the primary flavor that is Bing cherry, which is lovely and not overripe. The flavor does tend to wash out over time once poured into the glass. However, that makes for the perfect excuse to keep pouring yourself a fresh one.
DeLoach Pinot Noir Food Pairing
DeLoach Pinot Noir Central Coast can be paired perfectly with any meat: beef, veal, game, or poultry. It also makes for an excellent accompaniment with informal meals like lamb burgers or traditional light dishes like pasta. If you’re open to experimenting, I’d suggest an Asian dish, perhaps a Thai chicken, or even a flavor-packed salad and some soft, nutty cheese. If you’re on the conservative and non-red meat side, try mushrooms and salmon.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Makes DeLoach Pinot Noir?
DeLoach Vineyards, located in the Russian River Valley in Sonoma County, CA, and has been producing Pinot Noir since 1975. The Vineyard has been the polestar for many an achievement. For instance, the DeLoach Vineyards carries the distinction of being one of the first wineries to be established in the Russian River Valley. They were also the first to be recognized as a fish-friendly farm following almost two decades of sustainable farming practices.
After a little over 25 years of producing wine, the winery encountered financial trouble from which it couldn’t recover. In November 2003, the Boisset family bought the DeLoach Vineyards. Despite the new ownership, DeLoach continues to produce exceptional wines. In fact, they’ve been named Winery of the Year 12 times, both pre and post-sale.
How Is DeLoach Pinot Noir Made?
The Pinot Noir grape is the main ingredient in the wine. It is a grape that demands a delicate, labor-intensive process. Under the Boisset’s, DeLoach uses knowledge and practices of traditional Burgundian winemaking techniques such as open-topped wood fermenters. They also prefer native yeast fermentation and ‘Pigéage’ or hand punch-downs—all in all, it’s a relatively handcrafted wine. Another unique aspect of the Burgundian technique adopted by DeLoach is the use of oak barrels.
Most wineries prefer modern methods as they allow more control over every stage of the wine-making process. However, at DeLoach, it is believed that a wine can only be pushed to greatness if the wine-making process is accompanied by a certain degree of risk. Pinot Noir isn’t known to have high tannin levels. To bring about a more discernible level of tannins, harvested grapes are pressed or punched-down with their stems and peels. Following a laborious process, adequate fermentation, and resting later, the tannins get rounder and more elegant.
Where Is DeLoach Pinot Noir Made?
DeLoach Winery makes some of the best wines that spotlight the Russian River Valley’s personality. Located in the heart of Sonoma County, CA, the Russian River Valley owes its first grapes to immigrants from the Mediterranean region that settled there. The vineyards established in this region cultivate mostly Chardonnay and Pinot Noir and a sprinkling of Syrah and Zinfandel.
The Boisset leadership brought another two generations of sustainable practice knowledge to the DeLoach Vineyards. After several years of efforts ranging from planting cover crops to maintaining biodiversity and in turn restoring the health of the land, the DeLoach Vineyard resumed its grape cultivation. Their first vintage was released in 2010, and the estate earned two Winery of the Year recognitions in 2011 and 2012. Today, they’re one of the few wineries that promote socially responsible and environmentally sensitive practices.
The Pinot Noir grape is finicky and hard-to-grow. It only needs 100 days to mature as opposed to other varieties that can take as much as eight months. The grape has a relatively thinner coat which makes it susceptible to rot and frost. Pinot Noir also loves the sun but hates the heat. Too much sun and your grapes have shriveled up or burned. Too much rain and the grape bunches will appear healthy on the outside, but the tight clusters will have mildew.
Even a light hailstorm can ruin an entire crop. Another challenging aspect of Pinot Noir cultivation is that the yield is lower than with other grape varieties—and it doesn’t increase as the plant ages. These are some of the reasons why it takes a true winemaker to grow a beautiful, aromatic yield of Pinot Noir and why it’s more expensive than other types of wine.
How to Serve DeLoach Pinot Noir?
Cellar temperature—anywhere near the 57°F (14°C) mark—is best for DeLoach Pinot Noir. As the wine’s flavor ‘washes out’ after a while, use a bell-shaped wine glass and sip away but not too slowly. Yes, it is fine to place it back in the refrigerator once opened. But do cork it tightly and enjoy it within the next 1-2 days. Since it’s a ‘fresh wine,’ it doesn’t need a decanter. Serve a Pinot Noir straight from the bottle.
How Much Does DeLoach Pinot Noir Cost?
DeLoach Pinot Noir prices range from between $ 9 to $ 23 per bottle of 25ounces (750ml). It is one of the less expensive Pinot Noir wines on the market.
How Long Does DeLoach Pinot Noir Last?
Most red wines, like Pinot Noir, are at their peak within 3 to 5 years of bottling. If you’re worried, check the vintage date on the back of the label. Lay a red wine bottle on its side in a dark room with the temperature regulated at around 60° F (15° C) if you intend on storing it for a special occasion.
How Many Calories Does DeLoach Pinot Noir Have?
DeLoach Pinot Noir calories add up to 120 per serving of 5 ounces. The Calorie breakdown is such that it has 100 % Carbs (5g), 0 % Fat, and 0 % Protein. DeLoach Pinot Noir alcohol content is 13.5% per average serving of 25 ounces (750ml).
Conclusion
DeLoach Pinot Noir is a dry red wine from the Central Coast of California, USA. Made from world-renowned Pinot Noir grapes explicitly from DeLoach vineyards, this wine is both charming and delicious. The wine is packed with subtle aromas of fruits and spices. As the wine opens, you’re greeted with a warm cranberry that quickly softens into a Bing Cherry-like flavor. There are hints of spices in the taste palate as well that are often easy to miss. Did unexpected guests drop by for dinner? Not sure how to impress them? Break out a bottle of DeLoach Pinot Noir and let the wine’s charm do its magic.
