By Rob Bralow, Wine Post Editor
Luna Vineyards was founded in 1995 by Mike Moone and George Vare in Napa Valley. What sets this winery apart from most of the other wineries is that they are doing a little bit of work with different varietals, most noteably Pinot Grigio and Sangiovese. These wines have an artisan touch, obviously worked and cared for by the winemaker and vineyard managers.
2007 Pinot Grigio - I am not a huge fan of Pinot Grigio, as most readers have picked up on by now. When I find one I like, it is usually crisp and citrusy. I found this wine creamy and a bit herbal, as if a combination of creamed corn and green tea were mixed together. That said, it was quite drinkable, but not something that really stood out for me.
2007 Merlot - If you like cherry, you should buy this wine. There were red cherries, black cherries, bing cherries... it was a cherry bonanza. There was also rich cinnamon and cedar box that found its way in. This wine needed another couple years in bottle, a decanter, and a fatty cheese. It was tight, so buy now, drink much later.
2007 Sangiovese - It was like something out of a dream where I woke up and said, "Quick someone make me a strawberry cake with vanilla frosting!" and Luna was there saying, "I happen to have one right here." This wine was very good, with strawberry cake, vanilla bean, and sweet strawberry jam on the nose. The flavors were clear and well defined, which makes a great wine for someone who like to pair with food. The taste held much of what was on the nose, with a bit of dusty tannin in the mix. At first I thought the wine dropped in the mid-palate, but I realized that it just needed to breath longer (again, more time in bottle needed). After waiting an hour for the wine to breathe, everything came together and was delicious.
