Mark West Pinot Noir Santa Lucia

By Chris and Sherry Hardie
Pinot noir is the signature grape of Calfornia winery Mark West, which claims the slogan “Pinot for the People.”
The popularity of pinot is certainly growing, as there were 32,000 tons of the grape crushed in 1990 and 156,000 tons crushed in 2009. Mark West’s pinot lineup accounts for about 10 percent of the entire U.S. pinot market.
This bottle from the Santa Lucia appellation came from an excellent grape-growing year and was aged in French oak. The result is what you would expect from a quality pinot: smooth, silky and lots of trademark cherry.
Sherry: “Dry and acidic with fruity raspberry and black cherry with a hint of cocoa.” 3 stars
Chris: “Silky strawberry and cherry with a bouquet of smoke and plum.” 3-1/2 stars
Available locally for $14.50.
Coming next week: Red Rock Winemakers Blend