After a challenging vintage, some wineries will try to embellish the description of their wines in order to overcome any shortcoming in their product. At the same time, there are others who are straight up with the consumer, letting them know of the challenges they faced and the resulting wine they produced.

The folks at Sokol Blosser winery clearly fit the latter case, as evidenced by the straight talk they offer about the Sokol Blosser 2006 Pinot Noir Dundee Hills. It wasn't until after I drank this wine that I came upon their candid winemaker notes on their web site, which included the following statement:

Because of the extreme summer weather, with so many hot days and nights, and because of the desiccating effects of the drying east wind, sugars were a little higher and acids a little lower than ideal. However, despite the difficult conditions during the growing season, the challenging harvest, and the sugar and acid numbers not being in perfect balance, we were able to make some beautiful wines. Our 2006 Dundee Hills Pinot Noir is extremely concentrated yet delicate and elegant...

Their assessment about the Sokol Blosser 2006 Pinot Noir matched my impressions. Based on the 14.5% alcohol, I suspected this pinot was going to be a bit over ripe. In the glass, the garnet red color confirmed its concentration, with notes of earth and cherry fruit getting extra help from the volatile alcohol. On the palate, there were flavors of black cherry and an earthiness that was intriguing, but the lack of acidity caused it to fall flat, while a bit of heat on the finish made it unappealing.

Even though this pinot noir was not my style, the Sokol Blosser approach toward informing the consumer of the true nature of their wines makes me a fan of this producer. I even liked the ingredients on the label, which stated:

Contains: Sun. Rain. Drizzle. More sun. Some fog. The fruits of sustainable farming. Flavors of black cherry and raspberry mingling with earth and truffle. Aromas of the same. 16 months in French oak. Love & care.

We served this wine with grilled beef tenderloin that had been seasoned with kosher salt and ground pepper and then cooked medium rare. It was served on a bed of fresh arugula and then dressed with cherry tomatoes that had been sauteed with caramelized onions, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar. A side of Mimi's rice and a fresh baguette completed this delicious dinner at home.

After enjoying Susan Sokol Blosser's memoir and then experiencing the candid approach Sokol Blosser takes toward informing consumers of their products, I am eager to visit this winery and try more of their wines, especially the 2007 releases.

Full Disclosure: this bottle was provided at no cost to me by a distributor representing Sokol Blosser Winery. For more details on BeyondtheBottle.com's policy toward accepting samples, please review our disclosure statement.

Related Links
Brian on Wine's Review
Wine Skinny's Review
Grape and Grain's Review