Review: 2008 Saintsbury Pinot Noir Garnet

Nowhere approaching a ringer.

Rating:  All the right components, but none in enough quantity.  Unoffensive, but forgettable. $20



The rest of the story:  (Note: This wine was tasted and reviewed blind during the course of a seminar at the Culinary Institute of America.)

For a while there it seemed like we couldn't review a bad wine.  2010 was off to a great start.  Then, of all things, a week in Napa Valley had to break the streak.  This wine was tasted and reviewed blind during the course of a seminar at the Culiary Institute of America.

Specializing primarily in Pinot and Chardonnay from the Carneros region, Saintsbury long ago gained a following for its accessible, value-priced wines.  This wine could be a bump in an otherwise smooth track record, but it just isn't anything to write home about.

Transluscent garnet (surprise, surprise!) in the glass, this Pinot has all the right components in balance, none of which are particularly endearing.  Unoffensive mouthfeel.  Not quite a dial tone, but nowhere approaching a ringer either.