Gran Habano Cabinet Selection and Vision Cellars 2007 Pinot Noir: Pairing

The Wine

Vision Cellars 2007 Pinot Noir

Coster Vineyard

Russian River Valley

Vision Cellars

Rutherford, California, USA

Visioncellars.com

14.2% abv

$42.00 a bottle

Visit visioncellars.com and read about the owners interesting story.

Appearance: ruby pinot color with a light amber edge

Aroma: big summertime plum, touch of berries, and a hint of spice.  Delicate bouquet.

Flavors: dark cherry adds a nice sweetness, plum helps to lighten up the body, black raspberry, a Dr. Pepper quality, nice light touch of spice.

Mouthfeel: velvety smooth, perfect for a relaxing evening.  Lingering berry/cherry notes.  Tannins are light. 

My Strength Rating: 3.5 – velvety, silky, satiny whatever you want to call it’s just damn smooth – I’ll just say it is just plain sexy. 

You want to impress your date or mate, buy this bottle.  Just don’t forget to open it.  And, that is easy – it is a twist off.

93 pts. Wine Spectator

91 pts. Wine Enthusiast

The Cigar

Gran Habano Cabinet Selection Gran Consul

Wrapper: Corojo

Fillers: Nicaraguan

Size: 4.7 x 60 box-pressed

$12.00 in Michigan

You can find for under $10 online

Off the Light: tasty forest floor earthy notes right off the bat.  Around the first inch mark I start to notice a toasty cashew nut quality.  An easy, smooth, medium bodied smoke at this point.

Mid-Point: nice firm salt and pepper ash.  The forest floor earthy tones have evolved into a light mineral rich soil note.  There are toasty grains (oats?), pecan, fennel, and a dusting of cinnamon.  I have never had this cigar before but, from this impression I may have a new favorite.  I am glad I bought two sticks. 

The mouthfeel is very pleasing, rich, smooth leather, inviting, and I am thinking about a 4.5 or a 4 for my strength rating at this point. 

Down the Stretch:  the rich soil becomes a little firmer; there is still a good mineral quality to the smoking experience.  The sweet spice is just a hint, the toasted grains become a bit stronger.  The mouthfeel is clearly in the medium body range.  A firm 5 on my strength rating. 

The Pairing

This is one tasty combination.  The complex flavors of the cigar mingle eloquently with the smooth and sexy style of this Pinot Noir.  The rich earthy tones, tasty toasty grains, and sweet spices of the cigar are lavished with the wines wonderful dark cherry, ripe plum, black raspberry and Dr. Pepper likeness.  This is bliss.  I don’t want it to end.