Pinot Noir, which is produced from black-skinned grapes, is renowned for being one of the most difficult grapes to cultivate. They grow best in cooler climates, but when cultivated and distilled correctly, they make an exquisite and lush light-bodied wine. Black Pinot Noir grapes were originally grown by Cistercian monks in Burgundy, France.
Today, people from all over the world praise the wine made from these grapes for its complexity, elegance, and longevity. Because of the difficulty and finesse, it takes to grow the Pinot Noir varietal, the wine produced has become immensely popular. You may wonder: what is the best pinot noir in Napa Valley? If this is the case, we’ve prepared a list of the top-rated Pinot noir wines in Napa Valley to help you get acquainted with them.
10 Best Pinot Noir Wines in Napa Valley
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(4.9 / 5) Best Overall
- Name — Belle Glos Eulenloch Pinot Noir
- Winery — Belle Glos
- Country/Region — United States, California, Napa County, Napa Valley, North Coast
- Type — Californian Pinot Noir
- Aroma — Strawberry, Blackberry, Cherry, Cocoa, Tobacco
- Grapes — Pinot Noir
- Taste — Plum, Black Cherry, Blackberry, Chocolate, Oak
- Alcohol Content — 14.5%
- Sugar — Dry
- Pairing — Grilled Ribeye, Braised Ribs, Everything Mushroom, Dark Chocolate Brownie
Belle Glos Eulenloch Pinot Noir gets its unique flavor from the moist clay soil and cool coastal breeze along San Pablo Bay, an estuary found along the northern part of San Francisco Bay. The result is a ripe flavor that is complex, layered, and rich. Belle Glos Pinot Noir upholds the premium taste and quality that California Pinot Noir is known for. It is a wine with excellent structure, suppleness, length, and depth. When poured you will immediately notice its deep ruby color. The wine’s richness is complemented by its thick and somewhat velvety texture.
It has an exquisite aroma which hints at blueberry, cherry, and a touch of juicy blackberries. There are also lingering scents of cocoa and tobacco. This rich wine blooms on the palate with notes of blackberry, cooking chocolate, and hints of sweet smooth tobacco. You will notice the refined tannins and pronounced oakiness which end with a satisfyingly smooth and lengthy finish. You can pair this wine with dishes like veal, beef, game (venison and deer), and poultry. This is by far the best Napa Valley Pinot Noir.
Best Value
- Name — Black Stallion Pinot Noir
- Winery — Black Stallion
- Country/Region — United States, California, North Coast, Napa County, Napa Valley
- Type — Californian Pinot Noir
- Aroma — Cherry, Raspberry, Licorice, Strawberries, Coffee
- Grapes — Pinot Noir
- Taste — Raspberry, Cherry, Vanilla, Licorice, Oak
- Alcohol Content — 14.5%
- Sugar — Dry
- Pairing — Goulasch, Roast Turkey, Filet Mignon, Seared Salmon, Beef Tartare
Originally an equestrian center, Black Stallion Wineries is situated in the Carneros region of Napa Valley. If you’re looking for top-rated Pinot Noir in Napa Valley, try the Black Stallion Pinot Noir. Each lot of grapes is distilled and fermented separately in barrels for aging. To help give the wine a distinctly rich flavor, Black Stallion ages its wine in a combination of French, American, and new oak barrels.
Upon opening a bottle of Black Stallion Pinot Noir, you’re greeted with a whiff of cherry, strawberries, and a hint of spice. On the palate, these red fruit flavors become more prominent as ripe strawberries, cherries, raspberries, blueberries, and a blend of soft tannins will pleasantly surprise you. The wine finishes with soft, smooth, and earthy notes. This wine is perfect for drinking on its own but also pairs well with food. Dishes like a glazed duck, beef, poultry, veal, and creamy cheeses like Camembert go well with this complex and rich Pinot Noir.
Best Under $15
- Name — Bread & Butter Pinot Noir
- Winery — Bread & Butter
- Country/Region — United States, California, Napa County, North Coast, Napa Valley
- Type — Californian Pinot Noir
- Aroma — Blackberry, Red Cherry, Vanilla, Black Pepper, Oak
- Grapes — Pinot Noir
- Taste — Oak, Red Berries, Cherry, Vanilla, Tobacco
- Alcohol Content — 13.5%
- Sugar — Dry
- Pairing — Chicken Fricassee, Roasted Duck, Chocolate Soufflé, Nutty Cheeses
Bread & Butter produces wines with reasonable quality and prices. If you’re looking for inexpensive best-selling Pinot Noir wines in Napa Valley, then Bread & Butter’s Pinot Noir may well be your answer. This winemaker focuses on creating wines that are approachable and laid back.
Their flavorful Pinot Noir hits you with rich aromas of raspberries, cherries, oak, and a lingering smell of cassis. On the palate, this Pinot Noir brings smooth flavors of raspberry, oak, cherry, and vanilla with hints of leather. Their wines have an oaky fragrance and flavor, with soft notes of cedar blended with ripe fruits to create a quintessentially smooth and velvety finish. The wine can be consumed on its own but can be paired with food as well. Dishes like roast mushrooms, duck, beef, game, veal, and poultry are great options that go well with this Pinot Noir.
Best Under $20
- Name — Napa Cellars Pinot Noir
- Winery — Napa Cellars
- Country/Region — United States, Napa Valley, North Coast, California, Napa County
- Type — Californian Pinot Noir
- Aroma — Dried Cherries, Plums, Mushrooms, Cardamom
- Grapes — Pinot Noir
- Taste — Dark Berries, Toasted Pie, Vanilla, Cinnamon, Cherries
- Alcohol Content — 14.2%
- Sugar — Dry
- Pairing — Coq Au Vin, New York Steak, Butterflied Lamb, Roasted Turkey
Napa Cellars Pinot Noir is easily the best Pinot Noir under $20. The grapes grown in this region are sourced only from the best vineyards in the southern portion of the Napa Valley. The cool sea climate provides the ideal growing conditions for Pinot Noir. The vines in this part of Napa Valley produce a subtle, complex, and layered wine that has intense earthy flavors coupled with a natural acidity.
This elegant wine possesses beautiful aromas of tart plums, dried cherries, mushrooms, and cola with lingering flavors of cardamom and graham crackers. On the palate, the soft and velvety wine features flavors of dark berries, toasted pie, vanilla, and cherries. The wine finishes with lingering flavors of cocoa and cinnamon. This exquisite wine is a medium-bodied variety, with balanced acidity and smooth tannins. If you want to pair this dish with food, try going with pork tenderloin, beef, veal, or poultry followed by a chocolate mousse for dessert.
Best Under $25
- Name — Gloria Ferrer Estate Pinot Noir
- Winery — Gloria Ferrer
- Country/Region — United States, California, Napa County, Napa Valley, North Coast, Los Carneros
- Type — Californian Pinot Noir
- Aroma —
- Grapes — Pinot Noir
- Taste — Cranberry, Cherry, Plum, Pomegranate, Vanilla
- Alcohol Content — 14.5%
- Sugar — Dry
- Pairing — Griller Pork Chops, Braised Chicken Thighs, Beef London Broil, Seared Duck Breasts
Gloria Ferrer Wineries produces some of the most exquisite wines including their Pinot Noir. If you’re in the mood for a rich red wine but are on a tight budget, sample Gloria Ferrer Carneros Pinot Noir. Gloria Ferrer’s winery grows this grape on eleven types of soil in separate terrains over a 335-acre estate. This allows their Pinot Noirs to achieve a unique quality, personality, and consistency.
Upon opening a bottle of their Pinot Noir, you are instantly met with enchanting aromas of sage and bay leaf balanced with the elegant fragrances of cinnamon and all spice. In your first sip, you will note its intense acidity while your back palate will recognize the flavors of black cherry and ripe plums with a lingering flavor of cranberry. You can pair this wine with meat like beef, game, poultry, and veal. We suggest finishing your experience with a pumpkin mascarpone ice cream with toffee almond dust.
Best Under $30
- Name — Truchard Pinot Noir
- Winery — Truchard
- Country/Region — United States, California, Napa County, North Coast, Napa Valley, Carneros
- Type — Californian Pinot Noir
- Aroma — Black Cherries, Plums, Strawberries, Cranberries, Tea, Rhubarb
- Grapes — Pinot Noir
- Taste — Cherry, Strawberry, Nutmeg, Plums, Vanilla
- Alcohol Content — 14.1%
- Sugar — Dry
- Pairing — Pork Risotto, Beef Chuck Stew, Roast Duck, Roast Turkey
If you have a more flexible budget, try the Truchard Pinot Noir. The winery grows seven different types of Pinot noir in separate locations on their estates. Their grapes take full advantage of the thin soil, cool climate, and rolling hills of the Carneros wine region. All their Pinot Noir grapes are first de-stemmed and crushed. Subsequently, each batch is cold soaked for up to 5 days and is later fermented up to three times a day. Lastly, the grapes are aged in oak barrels for 10 months.
Upon opening a bottle of this lovely wine, you’re greeted with the pleasant aromas of black cherries, strawberries, and cranberries with lingering scents of earth, tea, and rhubarb. When tasting the wine, there are distinct flavors of plums, ripe currants, and vanilla. Its balanced acidity and soft tannins offer a smooth and long finish characterized by red fruits and spice.
Best Under $40
- Name — Frank Family Pinot Noir
- Winery — Frank Family
- Country/Region — United States, California, North Coast, Napa Valley, Napa County, Los Carneros
- Type — Californian Pinot Noir
- Aroma — Blackberry, Cherry, Strawberry, Baking Spices
- Grapes — Pinot Noir
- Taste — Red Cherries, Strawberries, Lemon Curd, Raspberries, Chocolate
- Alcohol Content — 14.5%
- Sugar — Dry
- Pairing — Filet Mignon, Heavier Fish, Pork Tenderloin, Red Velvet Cake
Situated in Napa Valley’s Larkmead Winery, Frank Family Vineyards crafts superior quality wines in small quantities. Their wines are primarily sold at the winery and are only available in a few restaurants and wine shops. Their Pinot Noir are all aged in French oak barrels. One-third are aged in new barrels, one-third in barrels that have been used once, and one-third in barrels that have been used twice. This is done to maintain balance in the wine.
This mesmerizing wine opens with beautiful aromas of red cherries, strawberries, and lingering aromas of baking spices. You’re greeted with juicy and refreshing flavors of red cherries, macerated strawberries, lemon curd, raspberries, and lingering flavors of milk chocolate on the palate. This exquisite wine has a well-balanced acidity that lingers at the end with hints of chocolate.
Best Under $50
- Name — Scribe Pinot Noir
- Winery — Scribe
- Country/Region — United States, California, North Coast, Napa Valley, Napa County, Los Carneros
- Type — Californian Pinot Noir
- Aroma — Blueberry, Raspberry, Mushrooms, Barnyard
- Grapes — Pinot Noir
- Taste — Cherries, Pepper, Raspberries, Vanilla, Mushrooms
- Alcohol Content — 12%
- Sugar — Dry
- Pairing — Crispy Duck, Seared Tuna, Pulled Pork, Filet Mignon
One of the best Pinot Noirs you can find under $50 is produced by Scribe Winery in Sonoma. Run by two brothers, Andrew and Adam, Scribe believes that premium quality wines are the result of the relationship humans have with nature. The winery was established in 2007, in the same year they cultivated two versions of the Californian Pinot Noir: Pommard and Martini.
This bottle of wine welcomes you with fine aromas of cooked raspberry, blueberry, strawberry, barnyard, and mushrooms. There are also lingering smells of baking spices and anise. It has intriguing flavors of tart cranberries, pepper, cranberries, raspberries, blueberries, anise, and baking spices for the palate. This wine can be consumed on its own but can be paired with food as well. Meat dishes with beef, veal, game, and poultry are delicious combinations for this Pinot Noir.
Best Under $100
- Name — Patz & Hall Hyde Vineyard Pinot Noir
- Winery — Patz & Hall Hyde
- Country/Region — United States, California, North Coast, Napa Valley, Napa County, Los Carneros
- Type — Californian Pinot Noir
- Aroma — Red Fruits, Dried Rose Petals, Pepper, Oak
- Grapes — Pinot Noir
- Taste — Cherry, Cranberry, Strawberry, Raspberry, Spice, Oak
- Alcohol Content — 14.2%
- Sugar — Dry
- Pairing — Seared Foie Gras, Lemon Chicken, Flat Iron Steak, Roasted Duck
If you’re willing to spend around $100, give Patz & Hall Hyde Pinot Noir a try. This pinot noir is one of the most sought-after and popular wines produced by the vineyard. Hyde Vineyard’s Pinot Noir captures the intense diversity of this wine. By growing their Pinot Noir in the Carneros, Mendocino, and Santa Lucia Highland regions of the United States, Patz & Hall successfully captures the wonderful balance, complexity, and purity of the Pinot Noir varietal.
Hyde Pinot Noir is by far the most versatile and elegant wine in their collection. Each bottle comes with a compelling aroma of red fruits, dried rose petals, notes of pepper, subtle spices, and hints of oak and cedar. Upon taking your first sip, flavors of raspberry, strawberry, and other spices flood the palate. It’s an intense yet delicate wine that is a beautiful representation of the class and quality of Patz & Hall.
Best With Unlimited Budget
- Name — HDV Ygnacia Pinot Noir
- Winery — HDV
- Country/Region — United States, California, North Coast, Napa Valley, Napa County, Los Carneros
- Type — Californian Pinot Noir
- Aroma — Violet, Small Berries, Rose To Peddle, Spice
- Grapes — Pinot Noir
- Taste — Blue Fruit Notes, Sandalwood, Green Tea, Raspberry
- Alcohol Content — 13.3%
- Sugar — Dry
- Pairing — Chicken Pot Pie, Peking Duck, Roast Pork Loin, Everything Mushroom
If budget is not an issue, make sure to treat your senses with a taste of HDV Ygnacia Pinot Noir. HDV is a collaboration between the Hyde family of Napa Valley and the de Villaine family of Burgundy. These families, connected by marriage, have long and rich histories of wine production. The primary goal of their auspicious collaboration is to produce wines that encompass all the knowledge and experience of both families. This is exactly what they have done with this Pinot Noir.
After uncorking a bottle, you’ll detect the scent of violet, small berries, and thyme with a hint of Oolong tea. Initially, you’ll taste the subtle flavors of fruit notes, its minerality coupled with intense yet subtle acidity. Flavors like raspberry, green tea, and sandalwood stand out. This wine can be enjoyed on its own, but that doesn’t mean you can’t pair it with other dishes. Foods like veal, beef, game, and poultry pair perfectly with this wine.
Conclusion
Pinot Noir is the most popular light-bodied red wine variety in the world. Anyone interested in wine will be familiar with it. If you’ve yet to try one, then this list and our curated selection of wines is a wonderful way to get acquainted.
