...aptly describes the mouth feel as “caressingly soft.” - 2006 Domaine Bachey-Legros Santenay Clos Des Hates - Burgundy

Grand vin De Bourgogne Vieilles Vignes

The French equivalent to "New World" pinot noir, and made from the same grape, Burgundy generally is rounder and more complex, with soft tannins.

Domaine Bachey-Legros Clos des Hates is a good "branching out" wine from California pinot noirs; it brings to the palate classic "Old World" elegance, as well as more complexity. Its tannins are relatively firm, however, though the wine's Chicago-area distributor describes the mouth feel as "caressingly soft."

It certainly is a pleasure to drink - and substantive enough to pair with a savory holiday turkey or clove-studded ham. A sweeter, honey-glazed ham would be a poor match, though.

This burgundy boasts rich fruit tones of black cherry and red raspberry.

It lacks what I think of as the typical California pinot's "beauty queen" aspects -- meaning, the overabundance of floral and perfume notes that, though pretty, often lack substance