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Ahhhhh.......Pinot Noir. Just saying those two works can make most wine lovers swoon. But what is it about Pinot Noir that so many love? A fickle grape that requires optimum growing conditions, Pinot Noir is typically a lighter-medium bodied, fruit-forward red wine. Originally the noble red grape of Burgundy, Pinot Noir is grown today in Oregon, California, New Zealand, Australia, Chile, France, Spain, Germany and Italy. When Pinot Days Southern California came to Los Angeles, bringing more than 40 Pinot Noir producers for an afteroon of tasting, I thought is was a good chance to ask some winemakers, and others, what Pinot Noir means to them.
Oh how we love Pinot Noir! That beautifully fickle grape that makes a medium bodied wine with notes of fruit (strawberry, cherry, raspberry, blackberry), earth (herbal, mushroom, leather) and spice (cinnamon, clove, smoky, tobacco).  Whether from Sonoma, Napa, Santa Barbara, Oregon, New Zealand or Burgundy, Pinot Noir is a perfect food wine.
Oh how I love Pinot Noir!  With descriptors that range from black and/or red cherry, raspberry, strawberry and currant to mushroom, earth, forest, smoke, incense and spice, Pinot Noir shines when paired with food.  At the end of January, the 3rd Annual Southern California Pinot Days took place at Barker Hanger in Santa Monica.  With close to 100 producers, there were Pinots from Central Coast, Northern California, Oregon and Burgundy to taste.  With only a couple hours to taste, here are just a few of my favorites:
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