Not Quite Shivering, with Antici—

Pation.

Fall is finally here in New Jersey! The mornings are chilly bordering on frosty. But it warms up during the day, a wee bit too much during the afternoons, and it’s not cool enough for the fireplace yet, dang it.

I have a little gizmo in my smart home setup that tells me when there’s enough of a temperature difference inside and out to light it up. (It’s got to do with air pressure and draw up the chimney, and other fire nerdery stuff.) That little alert hasn’t been going off till 8:30 or 9 at night. Last night it came on while I was brushing my teeth before bed.

C’mon man…

So all I got for now is planning the wines I can enjoy by the crackling fire. Something like this Lamoreaux Landing NV Estate Red Cuvée.

I was delighted to find this at the wine & beer store down the street recently! I have a soft spot for Lamoreaux Landing, a beautiful vineyard on the eastern shore of Seneca Lake in New York. At my first tasting there, with a couple of friends, it was a Saturday in October, and it was mobbed. So mobbed that they had to make up a whole new tasting table. They asked us if we would mind waiting. No, of course not, we could see they were busy. They were so thankful that we didn’t pitch a fit, we each got a free glass of wine. You can catch more flies with honey than with even red wine vinegar, friends.

The website doesn’t indicate what reds are in this blend, but I taste mostly cabernet franc here, which has done well in the cool upstate climate. The color is cherry red, with more cherry on the nose. On the palate, it’s bright, fresh, and medium-bodied. I get more cherry and a hint of cranberry, with some light spice. It’s all acidity, so super food friendly. I’d like this with some light fresh cheese, pasta with marinara, pizza. And in fact, it’s never too early to get ready for Thanksgiving, so Will It Pair? Oh yes, indeed.

If you like fruit-forward American pinot noir at a nice price, you’ll enjoy this. Have a nice hopefully chilly weekend, and stay warm!