When A Pinot Noir Says Hello Immediately

Some wines make you wait, but not Lombardi Wine’s Gap’s Crown Vineyard 2022 from Petaluma Gap. From the first sip, it was bright, expressive and ready to be loved immediately.

The color was a deep ruby with aromas of black fruit (blackberry, black plum) with an undertone of coffee, cedar, smoke, maybe even a little chocolate. A special wine like this called for coq au vin. I tried a straightforward recipe from Food & Wine, made a simple green salad with a vinaigrette and a little French bread.

But the story doesn’t end there. Some wines speak right away. Others wait until they’re ready. On Thursday, I’ll tell you about the one that took an extra day to show its heart.