It’s rare to find a good pinot noir this affordable
Pinot noirs are finickier and harder to grow than cabernet sauvignons. So it's rare to find one as delicious at this price point.
Angeline Pinot Noir, California, $11.49
13.8% alcohol
PLCB Item #8247
Sale price, regularly $14.59
Pinot noir is widely considered to be one of the top two red wine grapes. On paper, it can be hard to discern why. But once bitten by the pinot noir bug, it can be hard for wine lovers to shake a craving for this quirky grape. Harder still is finding a satisfying example priced below $15, as with this one from California.
Pinot noir’s rival cabernet sauvignon is both wildly popular and easier to work with from a winemaking perspective. It produces wines of far deeper color and stronger flavor than pinot noir and its vines are more generous in their crop yields. It’s little wonder that cabernet sauvignon is the world’s most widely planted wine grape, the square-jawed hero straight out of central casting. Pinot noir is quite the opposite on all counts, more the awkward antihero.
But in many ways, its foibles and failures simply add to its charm. Pinot noirs are paler in color and are flavorful, but not as forcefully so. Where other red wines predictably taste of picture-perfect fruit desserts, from cherry pie to blueberry crumble, pinot noirs have an oddly earthy flavor profile where fresher fruit tastes are married with outdoorsy aromatics that can evoke walks in the woods more than they do baked goods or dessert spices. Pinot noir is a finicky grape that prefers cooler, cloudier climates yet has fragile skins that are susceptible to rot and disease, making it difficult for vintners to produce its wines at affordable prices. This explains why pinot noir represents only a tiny fraction of global wine production and also makes the price of this specific wine quite remarkable. One can find other pinot noir wines at a price this low, but those priced this low rarely taste this good or as clearly identifiable as pinot noir. It’s hard to beat this lightweight red for summer sipping, even with a slight chill. Its sour cherry and strawberry flavors taste more fresh than baked, with a hint of pinot noir’s signature savory earth tones present in the background.
Also available at:
Joe Canal’s in Marlton, $10.99
Berkley Fine Wine & Spirits in Clarksboro, $10.99
WineWorks in Marlton, $11.98