Forty-four Millennials showed up to Thursday evening’s SSU Wine Club tasting called “Pinot Party.”  Not only did the students get to taste pinot noir wines from both Balletto and DeLoach wineries, but they were also treated to fresh Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris grapes from the vineyard.

Favorite wines of the evening were the 2011 Balletto Russian River Valley Pinot Noir ($29), which has notes of dark cherry cola, violets, earth and rhubard, and the 2009 DeLoach Green Valley Pinot Noir ($45). According to the winemaker notes, this latter wine is very aromatic, with touches of raspberries, black cherries, rhubarb, rose petals and a hint of cola.  It pairs well with salmon and other rich fish.

An interesting variation on the food plates were the inclusion of fresh raspberries, dried plums and red grapes, as well as cheese plate to accent the Pinot Noirs.