SECRET SAVINGS ALERT:

Subscribe to our Daily Dispatch (above) and you’ll always know what our Top Secret coupon code of the day is. Every day we issue a new members-only code that entitles you to have Ground Shipping included and, sometimes, an added discount!

Mission Codename: Collaborative Concoction

Operative: Agent White

Objective: Acquire the inaugural release Pinot Noir from Michael Forrest Winery.

Mission Status: Accomplished!

Current Winery: Michael Forrest Winery

Wine Subject: 2007 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

Winemaker: Kent Barthman

Backgrounder:

The Sonoma Coast AVA is the 750 square mile area with the Pacific ocean on its western boundary, the San Pablo Bay to the south and Mendocino County to the north, headed inland to the other designated AVAs in Sonoma County. The region is heavily influenced by the cooler ocean climate, increased rainfall and fog that lingers long on the coastal mountains. The specific climate suits the demanding Burgundian varietals of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir very well.

Wine Spies Tasting Profile:

Look – Light, clear and luminescent ruby red with garnet hues. Pink-ruby at the edges and when swirled, slow medium thick legs creep down the side of the glass.

Smell – Medium in intensity with aromas of tart cherry and other red fruits layered over complex notes of spice, a tanginess reminiscent of tamarind, light vanilla toast and oak. As this wine evolves in the glass notes of smoke, licorice and a touch of earthy bramble emerge.

Feel – Tangy and tart that softens as it opens. This medium-bodied wine is dry with medium tannins and bright acidity.

Taste – Flavors of both ripe and tart cherries along with other red fruits are elegantly layered over notes of floral violets, earthy bramble, spice, toasted vanilla oak and hints of smoke and root-beer.

Finish – This wine finishes clean and of medium length with lingering flavors of its spice, oak and fruit that becomes almost creamy in texture.

Conclusion – The inaugural release from Michael Forrest Winery is a classic Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir. With bright aromas and flavors that are both well integrated and complex in nature, this wine shows both finesse and elegance. And perhaps best of all this wine has easy drinking style and begs to be paired with food.

Mission Report:

The call came in late last Tuesday night. I was just dozing off after coming off of a long mission.

Sleepily, I answered the phone, “Hullo?”

“Red, it’s Z. Dead Drop Zeta. 0100 hours.”

With that, the connection clicked and there was silence.

Z is a deep cover operative, working in a senior position at Starry Night Winery, a winery that produces wines that have been wildly popular with our in-house agents and our Operatives.

I pulled on a jumpsuit and headed out. I’d have minutes to spare, but a little extra speed would get me there on time.

It was raining, as it had been for nearly a week. This has made meeting like this a wet affair, but I was happy for the vineyards. The rains were much needed.

I parked across from the designated drop and spotted a cloaked figure walking briskly through the park where our drop had been established long ago. The lone figure tossed a small bundle into a trash can and kept walking.

Since the park was empty at this time of the morning, I decided not to wear any sort of disguise. As casually as one could pick through a garbage can, I did – and I retrieved the bundle.

Rather than wait until I was back at my lair, opened the bundle, tearing away the neatly wrapped brown paper that surrounded it. Inside was an unlabeled bottle, two photographs and the following note:

Agent Red: I am writing to alert you to a secret project here at the winery. We have formed a clandestine alliance with winemaker Kent Barthman. Our plan is to craft small lot, premium Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, made from grapes from some of the most renowned vineyards. These wine will be spectacular.

You are, in fact, now in possession of Bottle #1 of our Michael Forrest Pinot Noir. The alliance has decided to allow The Wine Spies to smuggle a small quantity of the wine to your Operatives who will, no doubt, appreciate the balance and great character of the wine.

We’re trusting you and your Operatives to keep the wine under wraps. Please don’t allow this wine to fall into enemy hands. They’ll figure out ways to get their hands on some, soon enough.

Covertly, Z

With heart racing, I quickly returned back to my safe house to evaluate the wine. En route, I alerted my fellow agents. They joined me in time to enjoy the newly decanted wine. We all loved it and we made special arrangement with Z to bring you a limited quantity of the wine for today’s special offering.

If you’ve enjoyed Starry Night’s wines in the past – or if you just love great, hand-crafted specialty Pinot Noir – then this wine will be a sure hit.

Enjoy!