Ménage à Trois Luscious Pinot Noir 2017

The Ménage à Trois Luscious Pinot Noir 2017 is 76% Pinot Noir, 13% Petite Sirah, 6% Syrah, and 5% Zinfandel sourced from vineyards in the Central Coast AVA, the North Coast AVA, and the Lodi AVA in California. This is a Pinot Noir produced in a very modern California style that has become popular in the last few years, it is richer and bolder with more body than traditional Pinot Noir which tends to be lighter and delicate with a unique array of flavors (Ménage à Trois also makes a more traditional Pinot). The fact sheet for the Luscious Pinot Noir features raspberries, cherries and chocolate, all of which are flavors that may be found in traditional Pinot Noir, but not with as much prominence. This Pinot was aged “on” (I am always confused when they say on rather than in, things go in barrels not on them) French and American oak. It is funny, because these Pinot’s with Zinfandel and Petite Sirah blended in are the kind of wines that drive Wine Purists and Pinot Heads crazy, but all it is a style of wine, actually a very popular style of wine, they need to get over it. There was a saying in the tie-dye and bell bottom days of “if it feels good…..do it“, today I say “if it tastes good….drink it“. The alcohol content is 13.8%.

The color is still Pinot Noir garnet red, clean and see-thru, but with way more black highlights. The nose is toasty oak, chocolate, exotic spice, black cherry, vanilla, a slightly medicinal scent, and herbs, all in all, a mix of the modern and traditional Pinot Noir aromas. I was expecting it to be more over-the-top, and it’s not, it has a base of traditional Pinot Noir elements but with new tastes and textures added in. It starts with ripe cherry, Snickers chocolate, fresh, tart raspberry, French vanilla, and spice. The mid-palate offers a touch of Starbucks Mocha, cranberry, and black pepper. There is a lush, smooth mouth-feel and the tannins are sweet and out-of-the-way. As for the acidity, it is somewhat over-powered by the body of the wine, but that’s ok, this is a sipping wine, not a food wine. You can pair it with burgers, pizza, pot roast, it would work well, but just the same this is a sipping wine. The finish is full and lingers.

The Ménage à Trois Luscious Pinot Noir 2017 was unexpected, it is kind of traditional Pinot Noir, but on steroids. Under all the chocolate, mocha, and vanilla is a traditional California Pinot Noir and the old and new blend together and drink surprisingly well. I did not know what to expect from this bottle and I can tell you that I am happily sipping away at my glass of wine (well, in all likelihood more than one glass). The Luscious in the title is indeed well deserved, it may not be what they drink in France, but like I am known to say, like in the first paragraph, if it tastes good….drink it.