Burgundy Isn’t Always Better

I’m taking a Master of French Wine Advanced Sommelier course (more on that later) and we just drank this Pinot Noir from Alsace.

Pinot Noir from Alsace?!

Isn’t that the land of Riesling and Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer?!
It sure is, but there is a strong case to be made for Pinot Noir from Alsace and I’m here to make it.

Now, don’t get me wrong. Burgundy will always be the gold standard for Pinot Noir, but these days, it also costs you some gold to get it. So, may I present a lovely, less expensive option?

This Léon Beyer 2019 Pinot Noir is just $29.99, but the first thing I said to my husband when I tasted it was, “Wow I can’t remember what I paid for this, but it must’ve been expensive.” This wine is dripping with delicious—jellied not crunchy— red fruit flavor: cherries, cranberries, and raspberries. If that jiggly Ocean Spray cranberry jelly in a can could show up in a wine, this would be it. It smells a little like sawdust and roses and is smooth, smooth, smooth. It has a gorgeous roundness, but isn’t heavy, with subtly scratchy tannins.

Is it the fanciest Pinot Noir? No.
Could it compete with the top Burgundies? No.
Does every wine need to be top of the line to be fantastic? Hell, no.

‘Tis the season to quote Christmas Vacation, and I just gotta say this Pinot Noir is “a beaut, Clark!’

Chin!