Wine of the Week: Landmark Vineyards Overlook Pinot Noir

Wine: Landmark Vineyards Overlook Pinot Noir

Grape: Pinot noir

Region: San Luis Obispo, Sonoma and Monterey, Calif.

Vintage: 2012

Price: $19.99

Availability: Lee’s Discount Liquor

In the glass: This classy Landmark pinot noir is a fairly deep garnet-red color with a semi-opaque core going out into a fine-tinged red rim definition with medium-high viscosity.

On the nose: There are good amounts of crushed black plums, concentrate of cranberry juice, cherries jubilee, milk chocolate, licorice root, then bright red flowers, slight mint and earth-driven minerals round out the layered vanilla-laced toasty nose.

On the palate: The wine is powerful for a pinot noir, without masquerading as syrah, which happens a lot in California. There are again fresh bright crushed red berries, cherries, plums, raspberry coulis, cranberry fondant and copious amounts of phenols and earthy minerals with underlying hints of aniseed powder. The midpalate seems rich and forward with good amounts of balance between fruit and acidity, along with good tannin structure that reflects the wine’s microclimate. The finish is fine with hints of candied cranberries and faint oak references and excellent length.

Odds and ends: For one of the year’s traditionally biggest dinners, we need to drink well. This goes for the entire holiday season. Although I am a consumer advocate searching for values, around this time of the year, I think you should use some of the holiday savings fund for wine. Forget Black Friday and all that and tell yourself you need to drink great wines to celebrate the year that is ending, especially while in the company of family and friends.

Landmark Vineyards Overlook Pinot Noir fills the bill and then some. And it is still a bargain compared with its usual price in the upper $30s.

I have always said the two easiest wines for Thanksgiving are riesling for whites and pinot noir for reds. This impressive and overachieving pinot from several Central Coast appellations is elegant and perfect for the big Thanksgiving dinner. Drink it now through 2020.

Gil Lempert-Schwarz’s wine column appears Wednesdays. Write him at P.O. Box 50749, Henderson, NV 89106-0749, or email him at gil@winevegas.com.