S. Anderson 2001 Pinot Noir Carneros

S. Anderson 2001 Pinot Noir
Carneros

S. Anderson is by now a familiar name to those who like California Sparklers. Their Blanc de Noirs and Bruts have always been welcome at my table. The S. Anderson brand lives on in the sparkling wine market but after the 2002 acquisition of the estate by Cliff Lede, a Canadian businessman, the still wines are now branded under the Cliff Lede moniker. There is also now a reserve brand, Poetry. The temptation to re-brand is high when you acquire a property, I know, but the names Cliff Lede and Poetry aren't going to bump Yellowtail Shiraz off the shelf any time soon.

I visited the winery two years ago and was impressed with this one, but it needed a couple years to mellow out. I was given some line-caught Alaskan salmon from my neighbor and decided it was time to crack it open.

Color: Lighter than I expected.
Nose: This wine was too cold and closed down when I first opened it (about an hour before dinner) that I decanted it, which helped a lot. It opened up to reveal aromas of Kierch, fresh cherries, lavender and spice.
Taste: Huge and so fresh! This is what New World pinot is all about. The flavors were layered and long-lingering. A perfect accompaniment to my salmon.
Repeat buy? I'll try to find some more of this, and despite the lame new name, I'll seek out some of the new Cliff Lede releases. Perhaps it's time for a visit to the winery again to check out the new brand releases.