I’ve discovered this great “everyday” Pinot. What other low price $20-ish CA or OR Pinots would you recommend?
by The_Big_Cheese_44
13 Comments
Rerail1984
Juggernaut wines are a pretty good QPR, especially being a grocery store wine. As for daily drinkers, we enjoy Au Bon Climat SLH, especially when you can grab 6 at Raley’s and get a discount.
devinoupitou
That label is insane
sid_loves_wine
Au Bon Climat has already been said, and that’s a great answer. Pinot noir is especially tough on a budget because it’s a difficult grape to grow and vinify, So the really good ones usually start closer to $30. But I’ll give you a few more for 25 or under that I enjoy –
Banshee, Jules Taylor, Evesham Wood, Roots Wine Co. “Klee”, Broadley Estate, and frankly any “Bourgogne Rouge” you can find for around your price point.
Since you said you shop at Total wine, the Samuel Roberts Vintners Reserve is decent too. Definitely not as nuanced as the others on this list, but I enjoy it for the price.
Be sure to avoid 2020 Oregon reds, as many were smoke damaged from the wildfires.
I would AVOID Meiomi (and to a lesser extent, Boen and Elouan), also around the same price. Really goofy, heavily confected, and severely overpriced. They do not represent Pinot and Joe Wagner (the winemaker) sucks
MarzipanDeep3499
Best bang for buck IMO is Monterrey County Pinot. Look for stuff from Arroyo Seco. Tons of price/quality balance there. I think back to Scott Family Dijon clone Pinot from that region. Nothing but flames.
Beautiful-Price-6945
Whole cluster cuvee willamette valley vineyards 22.99, presquille Santa Barbara 24.99, Ken wright entry is like 23 bucks… all great options and delightful wines regardless of price.
dc5brando
Montinore PN for OR Talbot Kali for CA
alexx3064
Probably Main Divide or McArthur Ridge Brassknocker for me.
wandering_nerd65
I’m not sure any Willamette Valley PN are very good at the $20 price point but Drouhin Rose Rock is about $31-$34 a bottle and really good. It’s kind of my daily drinker PN
barTRON3000
Friends… Here is the right answer: Domaine Drouhin’s Cloudline is flipping excellent for $16-$20. I could drink that every day. Old world style Pinot. Famous French producer Joseph Drouhin has land in Willamette OR and producing some great wines. In fact, I’m going to open one now bc I’m disappointed with this ‘13 Burg Hautes-Cotés de Nuits by Pierre Andre
d1rover
I’d say a top pick would be the entry level Calera. You can find it at various stores for $22 right now, though retail is around $35.
Lingua Franca AVNI is a great $35 bottle from the Willamette.
thespeedofblah
Elouan is pretty solid at 17ish a bottle
I-yoda
The best Pinot for $25 is the wrath swan/828 out of Monterey county it’s $40 at the winery but the local wholefoods has it for $25 and we all go and buy cases of the stuff it’s delicious
Huge_Yam_9410
Erath Pinot Noir, Dundee Oregon, $15-$20 depending where you can find it. So good. Boom
13 Comments
Juggernaut wines are a pretty good QPR, especially being a grocery store wine. As for daily drinkers, we enjoy Au Bon Climat SLH, especially when you can grab 6 at Raley’s and get a discount.
That label is insane
Au Bon Climat has already been said, and that’s a great answer. Pinot noir is especially tough on a budget because it’s a difficult grape to grow and vinify, So the really good ones usually start closer to $30. But I’ll give you a few more for 25 or under that I enjoy –
Banshee, Jules Taylor, Evesham Wood, Roots Wine Co. “Klee”, Broadley Estate, and frankly any “Bourgogne Rouge” you can find for around your price point.
Since you said you shop at Total wine, the Samuel Roberts Vintners Reserve is decent too. Definitely not as nuanced as the others on this list, but I enjoy it for the price.
Be sure to avoid 2020 Oregon reds, as many were smoke damaged from the wildfires.
I would AVOID Meiomi (and to a lesser extent, Boen and Elouan), also around the same price. Really goofy, heavily confected, and severely overpriced. They do not represent Pinot and Joe Wagner (the winemaker) sucks
Best bang for buck IMO is Monterrey County Pinot. Look for stuff from Arroyo Seco. Tons of price/quality balance there. I think back to Scott Family Dijon clone Pinot from that region. Nothing but flames.
Whole cluster cuvee willamette valley vineyards 22.99, presquille Santa Barbara 24.99, Ken wright entry is like 23 bucks… all great options and delightful wines regardless of price.
Montinore PN for OR
Talbot Kali for CA
Probably Main Divide or McArthur Ridge Brassknocker for me.
I’m not sure any Willamette Valley PN are very good at the $20 price point but Drouhin Rose Rock is about $31-$34 a bottle and really good. It’s kind of my daily drinker PN
Friends…
Here is the right answer:
Domaine Drouhin’s Cloudline is flipping excellent for $16-$20. I could drink that every day.
Old world style Pinot. Famous French producer Joseph Drouhin has land in Willamette OR and producing some great wines. In fact, I’m going to open one now bc I’m disappointed with this ‘13 Burg Hautes-Cotés de Nuits by Pierre Andre
I’d say a top pick would be the entry level Calera. You can find it at various stores for $22 right now, though retail is around $35.
Lingua Franca AVNI is a great $35 bottle from the Willamette.
Elouan is pretty solid at 17ish a bottle
The best Pinot for $25 is the wrath swan/828 out of Monterey county it’s $40 at the winery but the local wholefoods has it for $25 and we all go and buy cases of the stuff it’s delicious
Erath Pinot Noir, Dundee Oregon, $15-$20 depending where you can find it. So good. Boom