The palate is as smooth, effortless and powerful as Reggie Jackson's swing, and connects just as well. Bright cherry, a little plum, cassis and spicy cedar are lush and mouth-filling. It's pretty much everything you look for in a pinot, or a shortstop (metaphorically speaking, anyway).

The finish -- which rules and tastes like cherries flambé -- dies pretty quickly, thanks to alcohol that seems a little hot (thus, the flambé). But, this is like complaining about the quality of the hotdogs at a game when your team is up by 12 runs. When I find a pinot this good at a price this low, I'm more than happy to put up with an error or two, so long as it's not Bill Buckner's World Series gaffe.

Swing, batter batter, swing,
TSW

* - Chimp Wine is a WoW designation signifying a no-brainer, must-buy wine (as in, "You'd have to be a chimp not to buy this wine.").

This is the surprise wine of the New Year.

It's not the surprise wine because it's a shock that Gallo made a good wine. Most Gallo of Sonoma wines are either good or better than good. This one's shocking because pinot noir was an exception in Gallo of Sonoma's lineup.

No winery making as much grape juice as GoS bats .1000, and this label's pinot never lived up to its cab, merlot or chardonnay. The 2001, however, makes up for lost time. It's like Gallo got A-Rod instead of the Yankees!

The nose is an out-of-the-park smash of cherry liqueur, raspberry, plum, cedar and a little vanilla. It's all there, and so well integrated that none of the aromas stick out like a Roseanne Barr national anthem.