Sequana, Russian River Valley (Sonoma County, California) Pinot Noir 2010

This is a wine that manages to bridge the gap that often separates crowd-pleasing wines from those that prove pleasing to critics.  It is open and slightly sweet and expressive and soft — making the crowd happy — and yet it really shows a layered, nuanced character for those who take the time and care to examine it more closely rather than gulping it down (which, admittedly, is a temptation that I found it posing).  Accents of cola, damp earth, wild mushrooms and woodsmoke lurk under a core of fresh, flavorful fruit recalling both red and black cherries.  Platinum Award winner at the 2013 San Diego International Wine Competition.