So while shopping at the local Co-op, I was shocked to see the 2017 Flowers Pinot Noir Camp Meeting Ridge Sonoma Coast on the shelf for $29.99. I used to buy this 20 years ago for $44, and I know it doubled in price since then. (The average price shown on CT is $85). Used to serve it exclusively with roast duck with a brown sauce studded with fresh blueberries, a copycat of a dish we had in Paris on our honeymoon. I bought all four bottles--and a duck. Also on the shelf at this store that avoids branded wines, a 2018 Kendall Jackson single AVA pinot from Petaluma Gap. I didn't even know KJ was getting fancy like that, but if Tim stocked it there was a good reason. It was only $20; CT reports the average price at about $35 so he must have picked these up on a distributor close-out. I took one just for academic purposes.
We opened both last night. Served them with Alaskan halibut with a Five Spice-panko crust on a bed of fresh tomato sauce seasoned with fresh garlic and star anise. An incredible match for pinot.
The Flowers was decanted for one hour. Exquisite nose but otherwise taut and lighter in every way than expected--color, body, finish. Definitely not the brooding CMR I remember or a wine that would suggest blueberries for a match. That aside, possibly in a dumb phase.
The KJ was by far the bigger wine. A dark, sturdy pinot with sweet black cherry fruit, also some tomato and thyme. Balanced, impressive, and a great deal for $20.