Réserve de Luch Pinot Noir 2019
Classic Movie Pairing
Shane (1953)For a balanced, clean, “friendly” wine like this Pinot Noir, you can’t go wrong with the expertly crafted Alan Ladd Western, Shane. It’s a story painted in broad strokes, with the reformed gunslinger (Ladd) acting as a mentor and role model to the young Brandon deWilde, whose family home is threatened by a land-grubbing cattle baron. It’s not a spoiler to say that the good guy prevails in the end – but it’s nonetheless a heartbreaker.
The Wine
France’s Burgundy region produces the world’s finest Pinot – but often at premium prices. For similarly elegant flavor and fantastic value, savvy fans turn to southern France. Réserve de Luch hails from the renowned Bonfils family and last vintage won gold from Gilbert & Gaillard, who called it “balanced and clean … a very friendly wine.” You’re in for more of the same class here, with layers of ripe, red-fruit flavor and toasty spice notes (a portion of the wine was aged in French oak for six months).
The Grape
Nicknamed “The Heartbreak Grape,” Pinot Noir is infamously difficult to grow. The same thin skin that’s responsible for giving the wines their trademark, pale color also renders the grape susceptible to vineyard maladies and damage from harsh weather. Pinot ripens early and thrives in cool climates – while its spiritual homeland is the Côte d’Or in France’s Burgundy, it has found a delicious new character in cooler corners of New Zealand, Oregon, and California, all of which produce world-class Pinot.
The Family
The Bonfils family (inset) have a rich winemaking heritage that stretches back to 1870. Their Château Millegrand is one of the Languedoc region’s leading estates, ranked by the Dussert Gerber Wine Guide as ‘Premier Grand Vin Classé.’ One of the Bonfils’ trademarks: they use the same oak barrels favored by Bordeaux’s famed Château Gruaud Larose (whose reds can fetch over $100 a bottle).
With Food
While you can enjoy this fine French Réserve on its own, it will really shine with food. Pinot Noir makes a delicious match for meaty fish, from plank-grilled salmon to tuna steaks. You could also serve it with roasted turkey (Pinot is the perfect Thanksgiving red), grilled chicken, or herbed pork tenderloin. Vegetarian? Try creamy mushroom risotto or vegetable lasagna.
What's Not to Love?
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