The wine for this month is the 2006 Vision Cellars Pinot Noir from Marin County, Ca. Winemaker Mac McDonald has been making award-winning wine since 1997. Mac, the son of a Texas moon shiner, got his start making wine with the Pinot Noir grapes from the famous Napa winery Caymus and recently purchased his own vineyard in Sonoma County. Mac makes some of the best Pinot Noir you can find in California. He earned 91 points from the "Wine Enthusiasts Magazine" for his Pinot Noir from Gary's Vineyard. Mac's portfolio of wines has earned the recognition and high ratings from most of the top wine experts.

Pinot Noir is a lighter-styled, dry red that earned its notoriety from the movie ‘Sideways' a couple of years ago. It is one of the hardest wines to perfect. Many winemakers spend their whole lives trying to make a good one. That's why there are so many not so special ones on the market. The grape is petite and delicate so it takes lots of care to get it through the wine making process. The main challenge is to get the fruit, pepper flavors and acidity in balance. Vision Cellars does this extremely well.

Mac's Marin County Pinot Noir has aromas of bright Bing cherry mingling in with mid palate layers of blueberry. The juicy berry taste finishes with a hint of light smoke. It is exceptionally structured and balanced. Dark purple in color, it is one of the biggest Pinot Noir's you will ever taste, and boy is it yummy. This wine is definitely worth its $40.99 price tag.

Try this wine with our many wonderful cuisines of Color. Think seared Tuna, BBQ grilled chicken, lamb with rosemary, hot Szechuan style vegetables or drink it all by itself.

Vision Cellars also makes Riesling, Rose and a Sauvignon Blanc & Pinot Gris blend. Try them all. For more great wines created by African Americans check out the Association of African American Vintners website at www.aaavintners.org.

Bon Vivant has Weekly Wine Tastings: Thursday - Saturday, 5pm - 7pm. For more information visit www.bonvivantwine.com.