For this week’s wine, we decided to go out of our way and take a drive to an alternate supermarket: the famed Shaw’s of Cook’s Corner. With a plethora of new wine options, we essentially closed our eyes and pulled a bottle blindly off the shelf. In fitting with our intent to drink in order to go to sleep, our bottle is cleverly titled “Once Upon a Vine” and will serve as our bedtime fairy tale. Or perhaps, our nightmare.
Unsure of what to expect, we popped open our 2013 Pinot. Amalie McGowan ’15, a guest contributor—self-professed sommelier and perhaps a pretentious know-nothing—joined us this week.
The pinot noir grape is originally French, as not so subtly implied by its name. Pinot, French for “pine,” describes how the grapes cluster on the vine like pinecones. Noir, French for “black,” reflects the dark color of the grapes.
Pinot noir grapes are quite difficult to cultivate and turn into wine because of their fragility. Pinot noirs themselves have been increasing in popularity since the film Sideways brought them to the forefront and disparaged Merlots.
As we poured the wine, we were quick to note the blood red color, which Brandon further described as being visually “wine-y”.
The nose of the wine is quite fruity. Our resident sommelier picked up notes of darker fruits like elderberry and cherry. Our bottle of Once Upon a Vine has a nice silky mouth-feel with good body. With just a quick sip, it is easy to note that the wine is quite juicy and sweet at first. Amalie noted that these initially pleasing impressions are followed up “with light hints of battery acid in the aftertaste”.
More accurately, she noted that this wine is “taking you there, the sensation building and building, but then there is a sudden firing off and you are left crestfallen with a bitter taste in your mouth.”
Wine and food are meant to be chosen together, so we carefully paired our wine with cold, leftover slices of pepperoni pizza. This “noir ass pinot” was washed down well with a salty amalgam of cheese and cured meat.
Overall, Once Upon a Vine Pinot Noir is like the Little Mermaid of wines (we’re talking Andersen here). Initially, you are charmed by the fruitiness and the visual appeal, but ultimately you end up stabbing yourself in the heart and throwing yourself to a watery grave in the Androscoggin.
Additional Notes
Amalie: “Take the pizza, leave the wine.”
Brandon: “This wine is like my love life: broken promises of Prince Charmings.”
Bryce: “While the flavor is lacking, Once Upon a Vine does serve as a good substitute for your favorite sleep aid.”
Nose: 2.5
Body: 3
Mouthfeel: 3
Taste: 2
Get some Once Upon a Vine Pinot Noir while it is still on sale! Shaw’s: $9.99.