15 Great Pinot Noirs for Under $20
ExcellentPinot Noircan be found for a lot less than you think. Here are 15 of Executive Wine Editor Ray Isle’s favorites, all of them available for under $20. (Additional research by Brian Freedman.)
2016 Buena Vista North Coast Pinot Noir ($18)
Buena Vista founder Agoston Haraszthy, who first made wine here in 1857, would have been pleased with this expressive, finely balanced effort.
2017 Cameron Hughes Willamette Valley Lot 678 Pinot Noir ($16)
America’s most well-known negociant has another gulpable Pinot, with enough supple texture and balancing acidity to keep you coming back for more.
Canned Oregon Pinot Noir ($6)
A brambly balance of berries and cherries mark this spicy, non-vintage canned Pinot.
2018 Cline Family Cellars Sonoma County Pinot Noir ($15)
With floral and almost meaty notes kissed with vanilla, this has concentration and excellent structure. Great with grilled meat.
2018 Cono Sur Chile “Bicicleta” Pinot Noir Reserva ($11)
Nicely structured tannins and an unexpectedly savory undertow define this affordable Pinot from Chile.
2017 Erath Oregon Pinot Noir ($19)
Cherry fruit and an earthy bass-note make this red from one of Oregon’s first wineries distinctly compelling.
2018 Fowles Wine Australia Farm to Table Pinot Noir (Approx. $15)
Vivid berries with a touch of oak from Australia’s premier Pinot-growing region, Victoria, make this red a great bottling to seek out.
2018 J. Lohr Monterey County Falcon’s Perch Pinot Noir ($17)
A generous, plush Pinot, with gobs of chocolate-enrobed cherries and melted licorice, all lent freshness with a subtle hint of herbs.
2018 Joseph Drouhin Bourgogne Lafôret Pinot Noir ($19)
From one of the great families of the region, this everyday-priced red is a lovely introduction to the charms of red Burgundy, vintage after vintage.
2018 Kim Crawford New Zealand Pinot Noir ($19)
With peppercorns, brambly berries, pomegranates, and mineral, this is a Pinot that way overdelivers for the price.
2018 Olema Sonoma County Pinot Noir ($19)
Sonoma Coast, Petaluma Gap, Carneros, and Russian River Valley grapes combine to give thisPinotlayered complexity and food-friendliness.
2018 The Pinot Project California Pinot Noir ($13)
An impressive effort from wine importer Michael Skurnik’s Pinot-centric label: 20% French-oak aged, and lots of generous yet vibrant fruit.
2018 Verum Patagonia Pinot Noir ($18)
From the Alto Valle del Rio Negro, this has a floral lift and an elegant balance of red-berry fruit and licorice.
2018 Viñedos Emiliana Chile Natura Pinot Noir ($11)
This raspberry-driven Pinot is full of energy and perfect for accompanying barbecue-sauce-slathered pork. Crafted from organic grapes.
2016 William Hill Estate Winery Central Coast Pinot Noir ($16)
成熟的草莓和樱桃馅饼味道找到一个silky counterpart in notes of toasty vanilla, coconut, and mocha.