Another day, another Pinot Noir

Here's a nice one: Chanson Pere et fils Pinot Noir 2006, Burgundy.

The Burgundy region of France is so closely tied with Pinot Noir that the wines made with this variety have long been called, simply, Burgundies. It's a varietal that's especially loved by winemakers and oenophiles alike, because the grape is so challenging to grow, and - in a good year - produces subtle, complex wines with little interference from the vintners.

Just south of the city of Dijon, the vineyards of Chanson Pere et fils were founded in 1750, though they've changed hands a number of times and are currently owned by a wine making consortium.

The 2006 Pinot Noir, made from grapes grown in a number of vineyards in Burgundy's Côte de Beaune and the Côte de Nuits, is a lovely, affordable wine. The first aromas are of cigar box and raspberries, followed by white pepper and alcohol. It's a wonderful, complex nose. The taste is just as nice: cherries, with a balance of high tannins and medium acidity.

Here's a Pinot made the way it should be - oaked, but so subtly that the wood just adds another dimension, it doesn't overpower the fruit. And here's the best part: it's only $20.

This wine is perfect for dishes with mushrooms or dark sauces. Or by itself - my recommended method!

Is it vegan? I don't know. But standard Burgundy wine making practice is to not fine, so there's a pretty good chance.

Cheers,
Dave