Wine and TV Pairing: Only Pinots In The Building
Which of the Pickwick triplets did it?
Yup, we’re bringing back the TV pairing this week! Let’s take a look at Only Murders In The Building with the perfect accompaniment to autumn in New York - cozy Pinot Noirs from Lingua Franca in the Willamette Valley.
Quick disclaimer: We’ll be briefly talking about each season of Only Murders In The Building, which may or may not include spoilers. Fast forward to the wine pairings if you’re allergic to any sort of spoiler!
Only Murders In The Building is a comedy series about three unlikely friends with a shared love of true crime podcasts who band together to solve a murder in their Upper West Side apartment building… by starting their own true crime podcast. It’s part social commentary on fan/stan culture, part slapstick comedic joy, and part buddy cop story with three great actors leading a thoroughly enjoyable ensemble cast. Steve Martin and co-creator John Hoffman thought up the original idea for the show over a decade ago, and when the show was greenlit in summer 2020, Martin Short and Selena Gomez joined Steve Martin as actors and executive producers.
The show is fast paced and funny, and yet there is something oddly comforting about Only Murders In The Building. The Upper West Side is featured prominently as its own character in the show, which tends to get released in the early days of fall. We see lots of knit sweaters, scarves, and fall foliage throughout the series, but ultimately it’s the camaraderie between the three leads and the endearing characters of the Arconia that give the show its warmth. It’s a show I look forward to following week after week upon release, and one that usually marks the beginning of my favorite season - awards!
Season 3 of Only Murders In The Building is nominated for 27 Emmy Awards, including Best Comedy Series and acting nominations for leads Steve Martin, Martin Short, Selena Gomez, supporting actors Paul Rudd and Meryl Streep, and guest stars Matthew Broderick and Da’Vine Joy Randolph. The Emmys will be presented on Sunday, September 15, so while we wait for the trophies to be engraved, Season 4 will start streaming on Hulu this Tuesday, August 27.
For more info on the new season, I recommend checking out a fantastic Substack publication by
, aptly titled Only Murders In The Inbox. I’ll try to pop some of my thoughts into the chat when the first episode of the new season airs, so I hope you’ll join me over there early Tuesday morning!
Like the wine pairing for Bridgerton, I’d like to pair the whole show with a lineup of one particular producer that perfectly fits the vibe of the show. To me, nothing says fall comfort like a great glass of Willamette Valley Pinot Noir. Say hello to one of the most iconic trios in the world of wine - Legendary Burgundian winemaker Dominique Lafon, rising star winemaker Thomas Savre, and Master Sommelier Larry Stone combined their cumulative wine knowledge to create Lingua Franca, a Pinot Noir-heavy label based in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA in Willamette Valley of Oregon.
Lingua Franca started when Master Sommelier Larry Stone purchased a plot of vineyards in Eola-Amity Hills in 2012. Intrigued by the possibility of creating nimble, expressive Pinot Noir that feels related to Burgundian Pinot Noir. Dominique Lafon - a winemaker from the Côte de Beaune responsible for some of the world’s best Chardonnays - came aboard as a consulting winemaker. With some additional guidance on regenerative viticulture from Willamette Valley expert Mimi Casteel and a strong guiding hand from head winemaker Thomas Savre, Lingua Franca has grown into a reputable American label with a delightful array of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, rosé wines, and some new single variety wines like Sauvignon Blanc.
In celebration of Only Murders In The Building, let’s pair each season of the show with a Pinot Noir from Lingua Franca’s esteemed lineup.
Season One: 2021 Estate Pinot Noir
Gotta start somewhere, and home is a very good place to start. The first season of Only Murders In The Building explores every nook and cranny of life at the Arconia, so it only makes sense to start off with Lingua Franca’s best grapes grown in some of the original plots. 25% new French oak gives the wine structure and a hearty dose of autumnal baking spices while still allowing the fresh red raspberry and mineral character to say hello.
Season Two: 2018 “Mimi’s Mind” Pinot Noir
Lingua Franca’s tribute to viticulturist Mimi Casteel is a structured, complex beauty that unveils something new with every sniff or sip. Like Season Two of the show, it’s full of unexpected twists and turns that celebrate its contributions by women. Expect some green raspberry leaf and Red Delicious apple aromas, and strong black tea notes on the palate. This is a bottle that is sturdy enough to sit in bottle for a mind, but I recommend going for a thrill ride and consuming this on the younger side if possible.
Season Three: 2021 “The Plow” Pinot Noir
With the plot of Season Three revolving around a Broadway show, I wanted to find a crowd-pleasing Pinot Noir that was equally satiating and fun to drink. “The Plow” has some big, bold fruit quality and a fair amount of grip, but it feels chewy and mineral at the same time. Maybe the rocky lighthouse in the Death Rattle Dazzle sets had an indirect influence on the gravel-topped soils where these grapes were cultivated?
Season Four: 2021 “Petit Géant” Pinot Noir
I haven’t seen any of the Season Four episodes as of the original publish date of this article, but what audiences do know at this point is that the Only Murders In The Building team is getting the Hollywood treatment. “Petit Géant” reminds me the most of a Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir from Northern California - ample fruit, supported and structured by some contact with new and neutral French oak barrels. I have a feeling this is the season where our three protagonists discover that their whimsical podcast has turned into a “little giant” that can be hard to control…
If you’re getting together a watch party for the first episode of Only Murders In The Building, pick up a bottle of each wine (or one or two favorites) and your favorite food inspired by the show. A vegetable omelette would be an appropriate breakfast-for-dinner move, as would frozen blueberry bagels or your favorite New York deli food. And, of course, don’t forget the variety of dips - all the wines would be great with an olive tapenade or a super garlicky hummus with dolmas!
The current lineup of Lingua Franca’s wines are available on their website. You can also check WineSearcher for details on stockists near you. Thank you for supporting your local independent wine shop!
Only Murders In The Building Seasons 1-3 are currently streaming on Hulu. The 10 episodes in Season 4 will be released one week at a time, starting on Tuesday, August 27.