Louis Jadot Macon-Villages and Kim Crawford Pinot Noir

With the holidays upon us I am busy doing tastings three times a week.  The wines I'm pouring are perfect for Thanksgiving and holiday meals.  Last night I had a tasting on two great wines. Customers truly enjoyed them both. 

Louis Jadot 2010 Macon-Villages  ($14) is from France.  This is 100% Chardonnay and is unoaked.  Yet again an aroma did not come through in the plastic tasting cup.  However, the flavor was spot on to the winemaker's notes - nice crisp, low acidic wine with a taste of green apple.  

Winemaker's Notes:  Bright and crisp with notes of apple; a classic expression of this Burgundy grape.  Pairing: Perfect as an aperitif or with shellfish, crab cakes, and goat cheese. 

I use to have a rule of thumb - I did not try wines from regions where the grape was not indigenous.  Having tasted Pinot Noirs from New Zealand ... I've tossed that rule out the window.  Pinot Noirs from New Zealand are marvelous.  The next wine I tasted out last night is no expection. 

Kim Crawford 2009 Pinot Noir ($19) is from Marlborough, New Zealand. It has a nice strawberry nose.  The flavor is also the perfect blend of strawberry and black pepper with light tannins.  This is a light bodied Pinot Noir.  

Winemaker's Notes: An enticingly aromatic wine showing notes of red berry fruits and dark cherries with the alluring complexity of well integrated oak.  Vibrant, fresh fruit flavors of strawberry and cherry underpinned by nuances of sweet, smoky oak.  Good firm tannins give the wine length and weight.  You can savor the wine long after it has left your palate.  Cellar up to five years.