The 2010 P.K.N.T. Pinot Noir is 100% Pinot Noir sourced from multiple vineyards in Chile’s Itata Valley. Most wines you see imported from Chile are produced in the Central Valley, but the Itata Valley is the northern most of 3 valleys that make up Chile’s Southern Region. This is a young wine, no oak barrel aging, and is not intended for cellaring, the wine is as good as it is going to get, right now. The grapes were hand picked and the wine was fermented and aged in stainless steel tanks. The alcohol content is 13.5%.
The color is a see thru raspberry jelly red with a pink halo. The nose has a little of the Pinot Noir funk, sautéed mushroom, sage, along with cherry and plum. This is a Pinot with a little bit of body to it, it starts out with fresh, juicy plums and a little herbal tea and bitter chocolate. The mid palate adds strawberry and a slight astringent medicinal flavor (that might not sound good, but it is a welcome sensation for an inexpensive Pinot). There is a slight bite in the back of your throat from the tannins and the acidity is subdued.The finish is mild and most of it fades rather quickly.
This is a “young” Pinot Noir, don’t compare it to Pinot’s that have been produced with all the bells and whistles. But, as a young Pinot Noir, the P.K.N.T. acquits itself rather nicely, cheap (you should find it for under $10), enough strange flavors to keep you interested and plenty of structure to hold the wine together. It is not intended to be anything more than a tuesday night on the patio wine, but it delivers a little bit more than you would reasonably expect.
