Pinot & Salmon

There is nothing like a nice Pinot Noir paired with your grilled salmon.  For me that's a great summer pairing sitting outside on the deck.

What Pinot Noir did I pair with my grilled salmon, nope not one from the US.  I stepped into New Zealand and opened a Wairau Valley, Marlborough region Pinot Noir from Goldwater. Truth be told, I haven't had to many New Zealand Pinots so I was excited to try this one.

Just to set the scene on the Wairau Valley, it's located in t Marlborough which is in the northeast part of the South Island. It's defined by it's proximity to the Wairau River which runs from the mountains to the ocean at Cloudy Bay.

The wine did not disappoint!  Once opened and in the glass aromas of oak and raspberry filled the air.  Strong hints of vanilla, with gooey caramel finished out the swirl.  One sip and you are hooked.  My palate filled with fresh strawberries and wild raspberries.  There were some earthy notes with light tannins and it finished with some spicy notes of black pepper.

I really enjoyed this bottle.  I believe it retails for around $25.


Disclaimer: I received this wine as a media sample from Pasternak Wine Imports