Print Friendly, PDF & Email

I’ve been in love exactly thrice in my life.  Sadly, the first two times ended in heartbreak, but my experiences have also made me a stronger person.

Now, that I’ve met Mr. W&D he’s changed my entire perspective on love, but that’s a story for another day.

This story is about heartbreak and lessons learned…that despite the possibility of your hopes and dreams going up in flames the rush of falling in love is extraordinary.

When I fell in love previously with the same not-so-good-for-me man that broke my heart twice before.  Once when I was a teenager and later several years ago.

With this man, the rush of attraction was like when your kid drops Mentos into a bottle of Diet Coke. Sometimes love is explosive

Call it borderline obsession laced with a slight tinge of madness.  After all love is, the one constant that can uplift you to the heavens or plunge you into the deepest despair.

One afternoon I was wondering how I ended up in this situation again and I found myself in Target.

I always seem to run out of paper towels and toothpaste while facing a personal crisis.  Besides the home décor aisles just make me happy.  Do I need another gray ruffled pillow?  Probably not, but that doesn’t stop me from touching every single pillow.

I save the wine aisle for last.  The gift to myself that keeps on giving.

So there I was between the elegance of Bogle Petit Sirah and rough riding The Show Malbec, when an obsidian and gold bottle of Love Noir Pinot Noir beckoned my attention.  It reminded me of a gorgeous circa 1980 Diane Von Furstenburg wrap dress my mother would wear.

Love Noir Pinot Noir elegant black and gold label with a relaxed vibe makes you feel like you’ve entered an exclusive club on St. Tropez.  When I read the tantalizing description, I fell in love with it just a little bit more.

Another bonus, the head winemaker is a woman.  Shout out to all the ladies in the house with style and grace.  Ms. Andrea Beltran and her family have wine flowing through their veins.  The tagline promises, “That you’ll fall in love with the darker side of Pinot.”  

Andrea, girl – I love the dark side… or was that the wild side? Either one works for me.  I digress.

I picked up a bottle of  Love Noir Pinot Noir Wine for $12 and couldn’t wait to find out if it lived up to its boast of silky intense flavor.

love noir pinot noir review wine and drama Most pinot noir wines are full of cherries and brambles and softer in flavor.  If Love Noir Pinot Noir was going to win me over, it would need to be intense but still have the juicy taste that Pinot is known for.

I was going to serve it tomorrow at my semi-monthly ladies night.

Ladies night or what the bad man I loved referred to as, “That’s the night I get banned and when your friends cackle around your dining room table. Meanwhile every husband is forced to stay home and watch their own kids (the horror right?).  Then you all get toasted and everyone has to get picked up.”

Of course, that’s exactly what ladies night is, but I like to think of it as being a fancy night in.  Even though we are all in yoga pants and there’s a baby in a car seat sleeping in my living room. I still put on make-up for my friends and my “dress” yoga pants, the ones without any holes.

I made a garlicky white bean dip, served Brie and Manchego cheeses, toasted baguettes, and made my Barefoot Contessa chicken salad with white grapes, pecans, celery, and spring onions.  For dessert, I served petit fours – see I told you fancy.

When I held up the bottle proudly there was a collective sigh.  I poured the first glass of the dark ruby wine and swirled it around.  The scent of Love Noir Pinot Noir, was love itself – a deep black cherry aroma bright on the nose.

The rich mouthfeel lived up to its promise.  The silky harmonious flavors of smooth chocolate mocha, with a touch of cinnamon, blackberries, and strawberry jam, Love Noir Pinot Noir gave us butterflies as if we were all on a first date.

We finished the sexy bottle of dark rich Pinot Noir wine in less than twenty minutes and I kicked myself for not buying three more bottles.

We cackled and toasted to bad men that stole our hearts and thanked our lucky stars that we all got smarter and better looking with age.

About the Author Alexandra Andersen


I founded Wine & Drama to make you laugh and help you learn all about wine, food, and living well. I love stinky cheese, my Nespresso machine, Loire Valley white wines, bold full-bodied reds, and championing ladies in winemaking.

Get Your FREE Wine Cheatsheet NOW

>