Joseph Swan Pinot Noir Saralee’s Vineyard 2010

RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY | CALIFORNIA | $39
Raspberry, cranberry and and mature strawberry fruit with rhubarb, cedar and a faint, pleasant hint of mineral spirits. Light bodied but quite cloudy — a visual putoff for some; however, not this reviewer. Finishes bright and tart, complimenting fat- and protein-rich foods. Present tannins bring structure, and there’s a nice chamois-like texture with some tooth. But it’s the fruit, and the accompanying acidity, that rule the day. Unassuming, perhaps forgettable by appearance, but oh what expression — she can sing — Susan Boyle definitely has talent. A very good wine. (Reviewed 8/10/14)