Big Daddy Pinot Noir: Warm, Toasty, Chocolatey

So, they tell me that a storm is coming.  I’ve been hearing crazy numbers, like 20 or 30 inches of snow, and I’ve been getting ready for the onslaught.  Our cars are prepped, we’ve got plenty of water, and I went shopping yesterday–we now have plenty of the essentials, like fruits, veggies, bread, and cheese.  Most importantly, I’ve got plenty of wine.

Specifically, I have a bottle of the Big Daddy Pinot Noir from Holman Ranch. The Holman Ranch is a historic, family-owned ranch located in the rolling hills of Carmel Valley in California, about 12 miles inland from the Pacific Coast.  The climate and terrain of the region make it an ideal location for the production of Pinot Noir.

Big Daddy doesn’t mess around.

Now back to the Big Daddy.  This is not just any wine; in my opinion, it’s the perfect wine for this kind of weather.  The Holman Ranch Big Daddy Pinot Noir is a late harvest that spent 18 months in a neutral French Oak and is fortified with a high proof brandy.  You’ll taste coffee, chocolate, and raspberry, and while there is some sweetness there, it’s more smooth and velvety than anything else.  It’s rich, it’s warm, and it’s truly one of the most interesting wines I’ve ever tasted, and I’ve tasted my share.  Big Daddy makes a fantastic after-dinner wine.  One sip, and I feel like I should be curled up in front of a fire in a cabin somewhere.

It smells even better than it looks.

There’s wine, and then there’s wine that is so finely crafted that it’s like a work of art.  The Big Daddy Pinot Noir definitely falls into the latter category.  I highly suggest grabbing a bottle of this for yourself while it’s available, and consider getting another for gift giving.  Skip the flowers and even the chocolates this Valentine’s Day, and treat me to a bottle of this wine!  The only thing better would be a trip to the Holman Ranch itself.  Until then, I’ll be over here sniffing my empty Big Daddy bottle.