INSIDER'S PICK: 2018 CANTINA TERLANO PINOT NOIR 'TRADITION' ALTO ADIGE (Wine Advocate 90points) $29.99

Even though we will not be doing the public tasting portion of the Insider's Pick until further notice, we will still be offering the wine for purchase with the usual 10% discount. The wines will still be ones we highly recommend, and the tasting notes will still be our own. We will be returning to doing just the one wine on Thursdays and Fridays until further notice. We hope you are able to come by and get some wines to enjoy.

While this may look like a 'follow-up' to our last Insider's Pick with the Tuscan Cabernet Sauvignon, somewhat of a series featuring outsider varieties done in Italy, it actually isn't. Pinot Noir (also designated Pinot Nero) actually has a long well established  history in this Alpine region of Italy, far before it became an internationally fashionable variety. Because of the cooler climate, they actually have quite a Burgundian aspect to their style, and with the fast escalation of Burgundy pricing not looking to subside any time soon, it's a great alternative that hasn't been really 'discovered' as much yet. The white wines from this high quality cooperative aggressively populate our store selection, and have appeared once or twice in the Insider's Pick before, so the fact they have such an excellent red should be no surprise to anyone. Polished savory fruit on the nose with touches of dark spice and cola-ish notes, with red berry tones coming out as it opens and evolves without much in the way of any oak coming through, a very natural expression of Pinot Noir here. The palate is equally elegant and flavorful, very pretty with again a polished character to the fruit with the fine tannins, more akin to a Cote de Beaune style in Burgundy versus the darker and more intense character usually found in a Cote de Nuits. If you are an Old World style Pinot fan, do NOT hesitate to give these a try.

---