Pinot Noir may be the toughest grape to grow, but the effort is well worth the investment. This is "every man's" grape, versatile for completing a wide variety of foods and flavors, light enough to woo "non-red wine" drinkers, and priced from $11-20, willing and ready to fit every budget.
Beaulieu Vineyard's Pinot Noir Carneros 2003 (California)is a bold Pinot Noir with heartier fruit flavors and touches of oak. Will work wonders on steak entrees.
The Kendall-Jackson Vintner's Reserve Pinot Noir 2002 (California) generally retails for about $11. This award winning wine has rich blackberry and plum flavored wine with a tea-like taste on the finish. Great match for a wide variety of dishes, particularly lightly seasoned fish, poultry or pork.
This is an elegant Pinot Noir from California's Wild Horse Vineyards. Fruit forward flavors of strawberry and raspberry greet the palate, followed with a soft, lingering finish.
Beringer's Pinot Noir 2002 (California) retails for $12. This award-winning wine has a bit more oak flavor combined with the typical berry and plums, making it more interesting than your average Pinot Noir.
The Blackstone Pinot Noir 2002 (California) retails for around $10 a bottle. This Pinot Noir has notable earthy tones enriched with ripe berry, making it a more detailed and layered wine.
Meridian Vineyards Pinot Noir 2001 (California) available for $12 a bottle, offers a cherry and floral flavored wine with a bit of a peppery kick, at an exceptional price.
Fetzer Vineyards Pinot Noir 2000 (California) sells for $13 a bottle. This Pinot Noir mingles vanilla and oak with ripe berries successfully packaged in a brilliant ruby red.
Chateau St. Jean Pinot Noir 2002 (California) sells for $16. This is a blackberry, cranberry flavored wine with touches of tea and spice. A lovely compliment to favorite family foods, due to its verstatile flavor components.
A to Z 2003 (California) sells for $16. A wine blended from 16 different estate grapes, offering a fresh raspberry and blackberry flavor with undertones of oak and vanilla spice.
Frei Brothers Pinot Noir 2003 (California) typically retails at $20 a bottle. This fruit-forward, medium-bodied wine has delicious flavors of super ripe cherries and raspberries, mixed with a splash of vanilla.
