Great pinot noirs, as a friend once put it, have a near-sexual allure. The first taste can turn you into a bottle stalker, which is why the world’s pinot lust has pushed prices of the most coveted to three- and four-digits. Today, though, it’s easier than ever to find seductive examples with those rose-petal aromas, silky textures, and layered flavors at more affordable prices.
In Burgundy, still the grape’s ur-territory, global warming has (mostly) ensured riper grapes every year. That, along with better vineyard practices and young ambitious winemakers has upped the quality of non-snob generic Bourgogne Rouge and little-known village appellations like Santenay.
The biggest change in pinot during the past decade, though, is the rise of New Zealand, Oregon, and California, as winemakers finally zeroed in on the vine’s sweet spots. Pinot is tricky to grow, and subtle shifts in temperature and soil make the difference.In California, pinot is now the state’s third most planted grape: 44,000 acres-worth, nearly double the amount ten years ago. The hottest success stories are in coolest areas, like the Sonoma Coast, Mendocino, the Santa Cruz Mountains and Santa Barbara. Even their regional blends now have a balance and elegance California pinots rarely showed in the past.
Oregon’s Willamette Valley has grown warmer, too, giving its wines more ripe lushness. The state is booming with deep-pocketed vineyard investors that include a raft of top Burgundy producers. And half a dozen districts in New Zealand now regularly turn out intense pinots with exotic red fruit and herb flavors.
Expect more bargains in the future. For now, here are my top 15 pinots under $50.
$40 to $50
2014 Kelley Fox Momtazi Vineyard Pinot Noir This boutique Oregon producer sources grapes from top vineyards for her pinots. This one has the kind of power and mineral elegance you find in one from Burgundy’s Nuits St. Georges.
2014 Two Paddocks Pinot Noir Most celebrities make pretty ordinary wines. Jurassic Park star Sam Neill, owner of this New Zealand winery in Central Otago, is a major exception. His flagship wine, a blend of four organic vineyards, is full and savory, with intense fruit flavors.
2014 Domaine de la Cote Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir You’ll see this pinot, a partnership of sommelier Raj Parr and famed winemaker Sashi Moorman, on a lot of Manhattan wine lists. It’s light and graceful, reflecting the winery’s house style and its cool microclimate in the Santa Rita Hills.
2014 Flowers Winery Pinot Noir Steep, twisting roads lead to this winery 1,500 feet above sea level on the Sonoma coast. Cool winds off the Pacific preserve the bright acidity while the warm 2014 growing season gave this wine a taste of rich, dark cherries and a lush texture.
2014 Domaine Drouhin Pinot Noir Dundee Hills Well-known Burgundy negociant Maison Joseph Drouhin was the first French producer to buy vineyard land in Oregon, and 2017 is the winery’s 30th anniversary. Its basic pinot, from a fine, exuberant vintage, is a heady mix of ripe fruit and savory cherry notes.