2007 Aubin Cellars ‘Verve’ Monterey Pinot Noir

Jerome Aubin really has a special knack for making pinot, and his Verve label has a cult following amongst many collectors, retailers, and folks in all parts of the West Coast wine industry.   This Monterey bottling is new to his stable (he makes pinot from fruit up and down the California and Oregon coasts), and it has certainly changed the way I think about Monterey pinot noir…   An overwhelming majority of the pinot noir made in California and Oregon shows forward red fruit – a small minority show hints of black fruit and earth/minerality, and an even smaller minority shows violet or blueberry fruit.   This wine shows delicious blueberry notes on the edges of its red fruit presentation and really make this wine unique.   Jerome also keeps his prices extremely reasonable, and this usually results in some of the best QPR pinots available.   Find this wine and enjoy it; I can’t think of one under $20 that I’d rather drink!  88 points