The Palma Superyacht Show 2016 has become a key calendar event for us, so this year we decided to offer a wine and whisky sensory tasting experience at the crew lounge, courtesy of ACREW event organisers.

Fully decked out with a bright red barber’s chair, we blindfolded our guests, thus limiting distractions and avoiding prejudice or preconceptions. We offered an array of wines and whiskies from around the world. The response was great and we enjoyed receiving honest opinions on aromas, flavours and their overall experience. I was amazed how even the youngest stewardesses had such accurate palates.

One wine in particular, Duckhorn Goldeneye Pinot Noir 2012 from Anderson valley, rapidly became one of the stars of each tasting. James Laube, from wine spectator, had awarded this wine 92 points, so I shouldn’t have been too surprised, yet I admit I didn’t expect such a reaction.

Pinot Noir is generally a terroir influenced grape, often with complex layers of red fruits and autumnal undergrowth. I often get told by casual wine drinkers that the Pinot Noir grape is not powerful enough to really excite them. It can be a difficult grape to appreciate, yet this Goldeneye 2012 was consistently getting great reviews. One stewardess explained ‘’it’s rich and smooth, just like drinking velvet’’.

The wine, aged 16 months in over 50% new oak barrels, is a lovely purple colour with aromas of sweet spice and vanilla on the nose. I was immediately excited at the very first taste – a bright mix of red and black fruit flavours including cherry, blackberry, raspberry and plum. The wine was soft, smooth, plush and perfectly well balanced.

My palate begged for more – luscious flavours of vanilla, sweet spice and supple chocolate kept in perfect harmony from the good acidity levels that kept my mouth watering. The finish was long, lingering and enjoyable.

I can imagine myself easily having a glass…or bottle of this sublimely smooth Pinot Noir on a breezy summer evening, but I also feel this wine has enough depth and structure for a colder day paired beautifully with game meat such as duck or pheasant with lemon or berry sauces.

I was wrong not to have expected such a positive reaction to this Goldeneye Pinot Noir 2012. This wine has power and elegance, and is definitely finding a place in my cellar.

Available from No12 Fine Wines and Provisions