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Meiomi Pino Noir 2014

Total Wines and More mailed me a coupon for $10 off from a $40 purchase.  The store rarely offers up to a 25% discount, but perhaps their tracking system somehow knew I had not been in the store as much in the past year as previously.  My strategy was to buy name brand wines (those with prices not ending in 7) totaling just above $40, thus maximizing my discount.  My wife does not think me frugal without reason!  I came home with 3 wines, including the Meiomi Pinot Noir.

Meiomi Pinot Noir is one of the best selling Pinot Noirs in America.  Sales have gone from 90,000 cases in 2010 to 700,000 cases in 2015.  Last year Meiomi was acquired by Constellation brands.

Meiomi Pinot Noir is a blend of grapes from coastal California regions in Monterrey County (4ti8%), Sonoma County (27%) and Santa Barbara County (25%).   Each region brings different characteristics to the blend.  The different lots were aged separately in French oak and then blended.

The first thing you notice on this wine is that the color is darker than the average Pinot Noir.  I found flavors of cherry, black cherry, blackberry  and spice.  The wine is medium bodied and smooth.  There is definitely oak flavor but the tannins are soft.  Although the  residual sugar is a little higher than some wines,  I still thought the wine was more dry than sweet.  This was a well balanced wine that was extremely enjoyable when paired with our grilled pork chops.

The average price for this wine is around $20.  Total Wines regularly prices it at $17.99 and with my coupon I paid around $14. 

SC Wine Joe rating = 91 points


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