Girasole Vineyards Mendocino Pinot Noir 2005

Now would be a good time to get in touch with your inner "flower child". This is the Pinot that might help you do it without a costly therapist.

Girasole (pronounced "jeer-ah-so-lay") translates to "turning into the sun" and thus is symbolized by the sunflower. The honeybee and sunflower together telegraph the organic feeling you will experience when you take in the wine.

Proprietor Charlie Barra has been treading lightly on his Redwood Valley Ranch for about a half a century, and his wines are made with minimal human intervention. Charlie grows grapes organically, meaning without conventional pesticides or herbicides, synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, or bioengineered products, and Charlie has always planted cover crops between rows. A portion of the Barra ranch is devoted to natural habitat and irrigation is sourced naturally from runoff.

In the winemaking process, less than 99 ppm of sulfite is added for preservation, special organically-approved yeasts are used and egg whites are not used for fining.

Girasole Pinot Noir 2005 is 100% Pinot Noir sourced from 45-year-old vines (when was the last time you heard "old-vine Pinot" being mentioned?), fermented in stainless steel, and seasoned lightly with oak chips. Cases produced: 3,500.

Tasting Notes: Appearance: Bright raspberry garnet with a very slight haze. Aromas: Raspberry and sweet cherry, with hints of cocoa, toffee and sweet pie spice. Light and lively on the tongue, the tannins are well integrated and the flavors range from predominate black cherry to nuances of tangy chocolate, citrus peel and tea. The finish is smooth warm and dry.

Outstanding value ($12).  Closure: Real cork.  Alcohol content: 13.5%.