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Three Deserving Pinot Noirs for $25 or Less
For most of us, Pinot Noir is a financial nightmare. Pinot Noir is a finicky vine difficult to grow, resulting in high-priced bottles on the shelves. And that was before the movie made everyone drink Pinot Noir instead of Merlot.
I just had not one, not two, but THREE bottles of Pinot Noir that were outstanding—and none of them cost more than $25, which is fairly affordable for Pinot Noir. If $25 is too much for you, or if you prefer more classic tasting wines, skip to the last suggestion. It’s a bargain for $12.
2010 Davis Bynum Pinot Noir (suggested retail $25; available for $20-24 on the market) Full-bore raspberry aromas and flavours with a burned sugar accent characterize this exceptional QPR example of Russian River Valley Pinot Noir. With loads of toast and spice, the texture is smooth. With cinnamon and clove aromas, the aftertaste is lengthy.
2010 Echelon Pinot Noir Russian River Valley (recommended retail $24.99; discover a bottle near you using the winery’s “where to buy” option). This very good QPR sample offers rich raspberry fruit with a somewhat candied edge to the tastes for approximately the same price as the Davis Bynum and from grapes produced in the same place. The finish is spicy but less complex, with clove notes dominating.
Casa Silva Reserva Pinot Noir 2010 (suggested retail $12) You might not assume you’ll find Pinot Noir in Chile, but you’d be wrong. With clear raspberry smells and tastes, this wine was much lighter in style, which some enjoyed. This is a straightforward and excellent expression of the grape that can’t be surpassed for the price. Excellent value for money for a Pinot Noir that will appeal to traditionalists.
