Food friendly. Fantastic. Fabulous. Fritz! Today’s succulent Fritz Underground Winery 2012 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir is a wine that is built to please.

This Russian River Valley Pinot Noir delivers an expression of the varietal that is on the juicier and more fruit-forward side than some of the more Burgundian Pinots from the region. This is one of the reasons that we love it so much. There is a lot of character here, and all of it super fun.

Here is a great review of this wine from Chris Sawyer, Sommelier and wine critic:

Fritz 2012 Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley

For Pinot Noir fans visiting the western edge of Russian River Valley, the eye candy starts from the ground up. Known for its light golden hue, the famous Goldridge soils of the region are comprised of a combination fine sandy loam with fractured sandstone beneath the surface. As a result, the balanced yields from each vine help produce deep fruit-driven flavors in the Pinot Noir clusters used to make rich and elegant wines.

The latest case in point is the Fritz 2012 Pinot Noir, a generous wine made with fruit from lovely 25-acre vineyard that was planted in 1999 west of Hwy 116 near Sebastopol. In the glass, the wine opens up with enticing aromas of ripe cherry, wild berries, blood orange peel, cocoa powder, vanilla beans, baking spices, and roasted hazelnut. On the palate, the deep flavors expand with resounding notes of dark cherry, plum, dried cranberry, black tea, wild mushrooms and sassafras; a burst of vibrant acidity; and a long, lavish finish.

With food, try this rich and complex wine with tangy cheeses, Grilled Salmon, Glazed Chicken Wings with Ginger Spice, Duck Confit, Slow Roasted Pork Tenderloin, or the delicious combination of dark chocolate, nuts, and fresh berries served at the end of the meal.

Score: 94 points