Why do People drink Pinot Noir?

by Mark Lloyd, wine consultant
(Honolulu, Hawaii)

The world of wine is an international playground and war zone. There are the Old World foot soldiers, the Burgundians; and there is the Zororastrian calvary who fight the bold fight of no light (through their wine)Shiraz, Zinfandel. Then there are the flower-power anti-war protesters placing daisies in everyone's hands, sipping riesling, Pinot Bianco, and albarino; calmly, with a stoned air of superiority. The enlightened ones. Wearing itchy hemp shirts and organic cotton blouses these anti-establishment pacifists would never consider, never even taste..."Is that merlot!?"
Yes, Merlot. Far from his home in Bordeaux. Fighting a good fight, quietly advancing city block to city block. Giving a hearty beef stew the perfect pat on the back. Pairing quite nicely with a sturdy pork chop and scalloped potatos. Doing the hard work, and doing it efficiently.
While this finds many supporters non-plused, there are those newbies. The Sideways aficianados. The less experienced winos that, like Myles, sometimes talks too much, and tastes with his eyes shut. Merlot can be a big brut, big enough to satisfy any "I want a Cab and Slab," kind of guy (Think Swanson of Oakville, Napa). While Shafer's Napa Merlot gives one bliss with an elegant, but not soft; and spicy, but not crass moment of twilight blue sky heaven.
The Merlot drinkers never left. Ask any Sommolier and they will tell you, "our good Merlots sell just as they had in the 80's." How do you think Dan Duckhorn sold his winery for such an obscene amount of green last year! So invest in a Pahlmeyer, a Twomey, a Robert Sinskey of Carneros. Or don't invest much! With Raymond Reserve, Napa ($26), or Fausto maculan's 'Brentino' from the Veneto , italy ($19). Sit back and watch the moon come up, and day wash away, while you savour melded flavors of blackberries, mocha, exotic teas and maybe sliver of saddle leather. All of this wrapped with a warm blanket of dark fruit flavors; and you just might ask the persone next to you...."why do people drink Pinot Noir?"