Pinot Noir is often pricey, particularity if you’re after a pretty (tasty) one.  But for lovers of the variety who are on a budget, there is hope.  While value Pinot Noirs don’t always deliver something all that enjoyable, our tasting panel has discovered a few that hit the spot for about $15 or less.

Wild Hourse 2015 Pinot Noir

Grape(s): 100% Pinot Noir

Region: Central Coast, Ca

Price: 10-15

Tasting Notes:

Strawberries and cherries interweave with expressions of clove and floral earth on the nose. Plush tannins frame flavors of strawberry, raspberry, and cherry that flow into suggestions of all spice and minerals on the palate. A lighter Pinot with a nice balance of fruit and earth, a Mediterranean chicken dish would pair well.

Rating: 89

The Monterey Vineyard 2015 Pinot Noir

Grape(s): 100% Pinot Noir

Region: Monterey County,California

Price: 10-15

Tasting Notes:

A nice combination of strawberries and cherries melds with hints of cola and herbs on the nose. Light and supple, flavors of strawberry, cherry, and cranberry play with suggestions of cola and thyme on the palate. Easy going fruit but rhere’s enough acidity to lift the wine up. Pork chops would make a good pairing.

Rating: 89

Hahn 2015 Pinot Noir

Grape(s): 100% Pinot Noir

Region: Monterey County, California

Price: 10-15

Tasting Notes:

A mix a strawberries, plums, and cherries come together with hints of cola and violets on the nose. Up front there’s lots of strawberry jam and cherry flavors that flow into nuances of spring flowers, cola, and clove. Fruit-driven and lighter bodied, it could pair well with a veggie dish, like ratatouille.

Rating: 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Photo credit: Didriks via Foter.com / CC BY