Pinot Noir Wine, best values

[Buster Highmen]

Fuck that movie Sideways, I've been a pinot fiend for years. OK, I admit a sauternes penchant too.

With the notoriety of my favorite wine rising, the yen rebounding, the dollar weakening and Ullr knows what else, pinot prices are getting ridiculous.

So, what's you best value for pinot noir?

Mine used to be David Bruce, Willakenzie, Maysara and Broadley, but even they're getting out of control expensive.

Suggestions?

[lemon boy]

start drinking merlot?

[Odin]

He's not drinking any fucking merlot!

[Buster Highmen]

start drinking merlot?

Now that's stooping.

[rideit]

[Tippster]

If you change yer mind on the Merlot thing, the new Columbia Crest Grand Estates merlot is really fucking great.

Columbia Crest
Merlot Columbia Valley Grand Estates 2004

90 points

Bursting with blueberry and currant fruit, this zips across the palate with a racy texture and refined tannins. Lingers enticingly with a hint of mocha on the finish. Drink now through 2009. 140,000 cases made. –HS (Wine Spectator)

Not bad for $8.00

As far as Pinots go I like the New Zealand offerings lately. They don't break the bank either, ranging from $15-25.

[Viva]

Cooper Mtn., Erath, Willamette Vineyards and Durant are generally affordable (well, used to be, at least) and generally pretty decent (and sometimes very good). These guys typically went for $12-16/bottle, but that was when I lived in Oregon.

A to Z was nice for a few more $$ ($18-20/bottle).

Although affordable, I never seemed to like Eola Hills (e-coli hills).

I seem to recall Wine Spectator having a review on Oregon pinots recently and there were more than a few recommendations in that article.

[Buster Highmen]

I tried the NZ pinots a few years back and was truely not impressed, so I avoided them for a while. But recently, I've had a few that were OK. Any particular names?

[rideit]

Wow, I never would have thought that one of those cheaper Columbia Crest wines could be so good!
Gonna have to try one tonight.
Nice tip, Tipp!
Any under $10.00 Pinot's worth a guzzle?

[advres]

Elk Cove
Coppola
J (expensive but good)
Wild Horse

[advres]

Any under $10.00 Pinot's worth a guzzle?

None that I have tried. I stick to the $15-30 range normally but I get a deal.

[Steven S. Dallas]

Castle Rock pinot noir- $12-16, depending on where you are. Quaffable!

[Tap]

the Bergstrom pinots are things of beauty

Josh makes a $22 bottle that is lovely and only mildly pricey

[rideit]

Thread drift:
Cheapest likky store in JH?
I have a TLS discount card, which makes it reasonable...The other stores are all over the map!
What is your local?
The Coach is the worst, IMO.
No bro-deal at all...

[Tippster]

I tried the NZ pinots a few years back and was truely not impressed, so I avoided them for a while. But recently, I've had a few that were OK. Any particular names?

STAETE LANDT Pinot Noir Marlborough 2005 92 $23
CLOS HENRI Pinot Noir Marlborough 2005 91 $35
NOBILO Pinot Noir Marlborough Icon 2005 91 $22
SAINT CLAIR Pinot Noir Marlborough Doctor's Creek Reserve 2005 91 $26
KATHY LYNSKEY WINES Pinot Noir Marlborough Block 36 Reserve 2005 90 $39
ALLAN SCOTT Pinot Noir Marlborough 2005 90 $23
TOHU Pinot Noir Marlborough 2005 90 $23
VIDAL Pinot Noir Marlborough 2005 90 $28
SEVEN TERRACES Pinot Noir Marlborough 2005 89 $20
CLAYRIDGE Pinot Noir Marlborough Excalibur 2005 88 $38
FORREST Pinot Noir Marlborough 2005 88 $20
VILLA MARIA Pinot Noir Marlborough Private Bin 2005 88 $20
WITHER HILLS Pinot Noir Marlborough 2005 88 $30
BABICH Pinot Noir Marlborough 2005 87 $16
BRANCOTT Pinot Noir Marlborough Reserve 2005 87 $19
THE CROSSINGS Pinot Noir Marlborough 2005 87 $20
DELTA Pinot Noir Marlborough Delta Vineyard 2005 87 $19
DOG POINT Pinot Noir Marlborough 2005 87 $40
ISABEL Pinot Gris Marlborough 2005 87 $22
KONRAD & CO. Pinot Noir Marlborough 2005 87 $22
MANA Pinot Noir Marlborough 2005 87 $15
MOUNT RILEY Pinot Noir Marlborough 2005 87 $17
NAUTILUS Pinot Noir Marlborough 2005 87 $20
SAINT CLAIR Pinot Noir Marlborough 2005 87 $16
SHERWOOD ESTATE Pinot Noir Marlborough 2005 87 $16

I like all that I've tried -- the Sherwood, Nobilo, Alan Scott, Brancott, and Villa Maria (VM makes a really good Sauv. Blanc as well!)

[Odin]

If you change yer mind on the Merlot thing, the

[Buster Highmen]

STAETE LANDT Pinot Noir Marlborough 2005 92 $23
CLOS HENRI Pinot Noir Marlborough 2005 91 $35
NOBILO Pinot Noir Marlborough Icon 2005 91 $22
SAINT CLAIR Pinot Noir Marlborough Doctor's Creek Reserve 2005 91 $26
KATHY LYNSKEY WINES Pinot Noir Marlborough Block 36 Reserve 2005 90 $39
ALLAN SCOTT Pinot Noir Marlborough 2005 90 $23
TOHU Pinot Noir Marlborough 2005 90 $23
VIDAL Pinot Noir Marlborough 2005 90 $28
SEVEN TERRACES Pinot Noir Marlborough 2005 89 $20
CLAYRIDGE Pinot Noir Marlborough Excalibur 2005 88 $38
FORREST Pinot Noir Marlborough 2005 88 $20
VILLA MARIA Pinot Noir Marlborough Private Bin 2005 88 $20
WITHER HILLS Pinot Noir Marlborough 2005 88 $30
BABICH Pinot Noir Marlborough 2005 87 $16
BRANCOTT Pinot Noir Marlborough Reserve 2005 87 $19
THE CROSSINGS Pinot Noir Marlborough 2005 87 $20
DELTA Pinot Noir Marlborough Delta Vineyard 2005 87 $19
DOG POINT Pinot Noir Marlborough 2005 87 $40
ISABEL Pinot Gris Marlborough 2005 87 $22
KONRAD & CO. Pinot Noir Marlborough 2005 87 $22
MANA Pinot Noir Marlborough 2005 87 $15
MOUNT RILEY Pinot Noir Marlborough 2005 87 $17
NAUTILUS Pinot Noir Marlborough 2005 87 $20
SAINT CLAIR Pinot Noir Marlborough 2005 87 $16
SHERWOOD ESTATE Pinot Noir Marlborough 2005 87 $16

I like all that I've tried -- the Sherwood, Nobilo, Alan Scott, Brancott, and Villa Maria (VM makes a really good Sauv. Blanc as well!)

You've tried all of these? Sheesh, I admire your dedication!

Ah, back in the day, when you could get premier cru frog burgies for $30, like Mugnier Les Fuee's or Vogue Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru or even the cheaper Dujacs like the Morey St. Denis. Those kicked ass. I'm eeking our the last of these '96s and '99s with no plan to buy the same wines at $100/bottle.

We used to drive around Willamette Valley in the late 70's and early 80's, and yeah Knudsen-Erath was great. But even their cheepie has gotten over $20 retail.

[advres]

Thread drift:
Cheapest likky store in JH?
I have a TLS discount card, which makes it reasonable...The other stores are all over the map!
What is your local?
The Coach is the worst, IMO.
No bro-deal at all...

We actually have good prices at the Moose belly and a good selection too. Make sure you say you are local and you get the hookup. If you go and I am working I will even give you a special maggot hook. I am the only one with a tattoo sleeve so you know who I am.

The TLS is good. Koshu has a great selection but the prices vary. Dornans has a sick selection but I have never really checked the prices compared to others.

[StormRider]

While they don't make a Pinot Noir, Black Box Wines and the best value I've seen for the styles they make. >$20 per box and a box = 4 bottles. And it’s GOOD.

[pechelman]

A 2nd on the A-Z pinot.
IIRC, the 2003 was a bit better than the 2004. (14-18$ last time I bought it)

[Buster Highmen]

I'll try the NZ and A-Z.

[PNWbrit]

While they don't make a Pinot Noir, Black Box Wines and the best value I've seen for the styles they make. >$20 per box and a box = 4 bottles. And it’s GOOD.

Box wine?

Buster?

My money is on that not happening.

[skiHOG]

I tried the NZ pinots a few years back and was truely not impressed, so I avoided them for a while. But recently, I've had a few that were OK. Any particular names?

i worked at a pinot noir vineyard in NZ for about 6 months. the grapes went to a few different wineries. i drank a lot of wine in NZ, and found that most of the wines out of Central Otago were very good. a couple: pisa range, rippon, gibbston valley, and kawarau estate wineries. mt. difficulty was pretty much the only wine from that area i didn't like.

most of that stuff is not necessarily cheap here in the U.S.

[Hutch]

[schwerty]

Dornans has a sick selection but I have never really checked the prices compared to others.

Dornan's isn't cheap! More expensive than most places in the valley but they carry a handful + of Cabs that you can't get anywhere else. I'm not much of a Pinot guy but I've heard the same...