10 Best Cheap Pinot Noir Wines Under $10 (2023)

Pinot Noir Wine: Deep, Elegant, and Classy

Pinot Noir is a noble red grape variety from Burgundy, France, and it is now cultivated in many wine regions around the world. You can even find Pinot Noir vineyards in the USA, such as Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Pinot Noir wines are amongst the most complex on the planet showcasing expressions of cherries, berries, leather, and soil. The higher quality a Pinot Noir wine is, the higher price it will command. The most expensive Pinot Noirs are those from Burgundy with the Cru and Grand Cru status.

The higher Pinot Noir examples present aromas of cherries, raspberries, and strawberries. In other words, they’re very fruit-forward. In addition, they are layered with flavors of baking spices, cloves, and leather. Pinot Noir wines typically reflect the terroir in which they have grown. You may notice elements of earth, forest floor, or dried soils. They often showcase floral aromas such as violets, and herbs, like thyme and dill.

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As expected, finding a great Pinot Noir under $10 is not easy. In fact, discovering the best inexpensive Pinot Noir wine is unbelievably challenging. However, fret not, since we tasted countless Pinots, from the most famous to the relatively unknown, and came up with this wine list. Here are the best affordable Pinot Noir wines on the market right now:

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Best Pinot Noir Wines Under $10

Best Cheap Overall

Tasting Notes

With notes of black and red fruits on the nose, Mirassou Pinot Noir has a core of strawberries, pomegranates, and fresh raspberries, balanced by hints of cinnamon, vanilla, and tree bark. Light ruby-red in color, this wine begins with fresh aromas of cherries, redcurrants, blueberries, and violets, with nuances of oak, pepper, and almond.

Lightweight and with a smooth texture in the mouth, Mirassou Pinot Noir showcases tastes of strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, and pomegranates, as well as gentle touches of cocoa, tar, sweet tobacco, and tree bark. The oak-influenced aftertaste sees lingering sensations of vanilla and cinnamon spice and light hints of tomato leaf and bell pepper. Furthermore, the tannins are soft and provide pleasant crunchiness.

Winemakers for More Than a Century

The Mirassou family has been dedicated to mastering winemaking since 1854. About 150 years later, their passion and appreciation for grapes and wine seem to be stronger than ever. Today, the 6th generation of the family runs the firm, and in 2004, they celebrated the 150th Anniversary as a California winery with the launch of a new line of fruit-forward wines.

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Best Value

Tasting Notes

Medium crimson, Backhouse Pinot Noir offers fresh aromas of raspberries and cherries, as well as tastes of sweet tobacco, cassis, and ripe plums. It has a smooth texture and fine-grained tannins, and it is an easy sipper.

Raspberries, cherries, and strawberries provide refreshing fragrances before combining with touches of cloves and vanilla spice for a balanced yet fresh bouquet. Medium-bodied, the palate exhibits plums, cassis, sweet tobacco, and pepper, as well as vibrant suggestions of raspberries, redcurrants, and blackberries. Fine-grained, silky tannins provide structure and lead to a long, warm finish.

Sourcing Grapes From the Best California Vineyards

At Backhouse, winemaking begins with premium grapes sourced from California’s premier wine regions. After harvest, the wines undergo a completely clean fermentation in stainless steel vats and slight maturation in French and American oak to deliver fruit-forward wines for daily enjoyment. On top of this, Backhouse wines have been recognized for their quality and value from wine competitions and publications.

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Best From France

Tasting Notes

If you are looking for a good Pinot Noir under $10, Maison Nicolas Pinot Noir might be for you. Fragrances of ripe berries and cherries are upfront, as the aromatic bouquet of this approachable red develops, followed by hints of cherry cola, charred wood, and sweet spice on the palate. As soon as the bottle is uncorked, fragrances of cherries, raspberries, and strawberries surface, joining hints of plum sauce, cinnamon spice, and clove.

On the palate, tastes of blackberries and cocoa mingle with notes of cherry cola, tree bark, and smoke contributing depth and structure. Meanwhile, the mid-palate experiences earthy and savory sensations of mushroom, forest floor, and barnyard. Easy-to-drink and with enough complexity to satisfy every wine fan, the wine boasts velvety tannins and a slightly bitter finish.

Staying True to Traditional Vinification and Maturing

At Maison Nicolas, they implement traditional vinification and maturing, producing fine wines highly expressive of the Burgundian land. During the last few years, the people behind Maison Nicolas have made a name for themselves, their wines are recommended because they exhibit grape purity and profound flavor concentration. Possibly the best value Pinot Noir under $10.

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Best From Napa Valley

Tasting Notes

Crispy and fresh, Chateau Souverain Pinot Noir reminds more of a White Zinfandel than a Pinot. Nevertheless, this is one of the top Pinot Noir under $10, as the smooth texture and the pronounced dark fruit notes guarantee a pleasant experience and great value.

Cherries, raspberries, and cranberries commence a fruity dance and mingle with coffee, candy, and bubblegum to define the bouquet. The palate is more structured than the nose, as flavors of plums, blackberries, and ripe strawberries, seamlessly blend with touches of smoke, vanilla spice, and clove. A pronounced tint of chocolate and butterscotch are also present in the mouth, finishing long. As to the tannins, they are unobtrusive. However, a tiny crunchiness is discernible in the back palate.

Producing Outstanding California Wines

Chateau Souverain has a 120-year-old history of producing fine wine in Napa and Alexander Valley. The winemaker at Chateau Souverain is Ed Killian, with over 25 years of experience in winemaking. He sources fruit only from the very best appellations in an effort to create Chateau Souverain’s signature style. Killian constantly crafts wines of phenomenal quality, highly expressive of the terroir and California’s personality.

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Best From Sonoma

Tasting Notes

Starting with notes of fresh red and black fruits, Dante Pinot Noir has an earthy palate filled with citrus, strawberries, and hints of vanilla spice. Fragrances of cherries, raspberries, blackberries, and rose petals emerge on the nose, combining with hints of sweet tobacco, clove, and vanilla spice.

In the mouth, expect to taste grapefruits, strawberries, cranberries, and dried flowers, such as violet and lavender. The texture is round and finely layered, framed by fine-grained tannin and jammy plum. Subtle touches of rhubarb and menthol drive into a pleasant, albeit thin finish.

Winemaking Inspired by Philosophy

Michael Pozzan is the founder of the Dante winery. He named it after the synonymous Italian poet and philosopher Dante Alighieri and his son, Michael Dante Pozzan. He produces hearty yet approachable wines reminiscent of the ones you can find at the Italian trattorias. Vibrant and with a rich character, Dante wines have grown in popularity and appreciation over the years.

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Best From Oregon

Tasting Notes

This rosé blend of Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris presents stone fruit elements mingled with tropicals and warm spices, framed in a balanced palate and a crisp, pleasing finish. Fragrant honeysuckles and strawberries join peaches, apricots, and mangoes, as hints of citrus add vibrancy to the nose.

Fresh flavors of pineapples, apricots, watermelons, and papayas give juicy texture to the palate, as delicate touches of rhubarb and lemongrass complement the medium-plus acidity. Some warm, baking spices are presented in the mouth, too, but they do not take away from the freshness or offer structure. The fine finish concludes the tasting profile with a dash of restrained minerality.

Good Wine Should Be Un-Restrained

Underwood produces wines with fruit sourced from a diverse palette of vineyards in Oregon, where Pinot Noir is synonymous with the state’s wine industry. At Underwood, they believe that the contents are more important than the container and that approachable wine should match any dish. For this reason, they aim to produce wines that celebrate the big adventures as well as everyday, casual moments.

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Best From Australia

Tasting Notes

Uplifting notes of cherries, strawberries, and rich vanilla overtones give warm aromas on the nose of 19 Crimes The Punishment Pinot Noir. The palate is smooth and medium-bodied, stuffed with red and dark fruit flavors and oaky suggestions. Aromas of plums and blackberries interlace with nuances of cherries, strawberries, and raspberries, accompanying sweet vanilla overtones.

Creamy and smooth, with velvety tannins, the palate shows dynamism and tastes of blueberries, redcurrants, campfire, smoke, and cinnamon spice. In addition, wine enthusiasts might discern in the midpalate flavors of cardamom, cloves, and brown sugar, too. The wine finishes with a long and enjoyable aftertaste. That might be the best budget Pinot Noir on our list!

Winemaking Inspired by British Rogues

The story of 19 Crimes winery begins in 1787 when British rogues were sentenced to live in Australia or be hanged. Many criminals were transported to that distant land down under. The ones who survived the tortuous sea journey became colonists. Many took the opportunity to embrace living in a new country and started brand-new lives. The winemaker at 19 Crimes is Michael Kane, who, since 2012, has been responsible for producing oaky wines, appreciated for their complexity and boldness.

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Best From New Zealand

Tasting Notes

Medium-to-full-bodied, with abundant flavors of plums and cherries that finish with creamy sensations and mouthwatering acids, Brancott Estate Pinot Noir impresses. With a fragrant nose of cherries, raspberries, and plums and undertones of blackberries and cinnamon, this Pinot begins with an elegant but rich bouquet.

On the palate, mouthwatering acidity is prevalent and pronounced, offsetting flavors of jammy brambles, strawberries, cream, brioche bread, and stewed prunes. Gentle notes of gooseberries, grapefruits, and mushrooms are present, too, finishing in a long aftertaste of tobacco, smoke, and forest floor.

Sauvignon Blanc Pioneers

Before the 1970s, Marlborough was considered too cold for anything other than sheep grazing. However, Brancott Estate decided to go against the grain and produce Marlborough’s first Sauvignon Blanc, changing the region’s history forever. Since then, Marlborough and the Brancott Estate have been renowned for producing some of the best examples of this variety.

And from the moment Sauvignon Blanc could be cultivated with success, the Brancott Estate decided to move forward and plant Pinot Noir grapevines, too. The result? High-quality Pinots. Undoubtedly, the Brancott Estate could very well be the best Pinot Noir for the money of $10.

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Best From Chile

Tasting Notes

That is a fresh Pinot, characterized by notes of red berries and hints of cedar and mushroom. In the mouth, it displays a lively acidity combined with dark fruit undertones. Light and straightforward, Casillero del Diablo Pinot Noir is smooth and opens with aromas of cherries, raspberries, and strawberries, framed by nuances of mushroom, smoke, and cedar.

Medium-bodied, on the palate, tastes of blackberries, plums, prunes, and figs dominate, as well as notes of chocolate, coffee, and mint. The tannins are plush, and the finish is moderate with some hints of sweet tobacco, papaya, and asparagus. Consequently, this is one of the top-rated Pinot Noir under $10.

A Hellish Legend

According to the story, more than 100 years ago, the founder of the winery, Don Melchor Concha y Toro, hid a collection of premium wines in his cellar, securing them behind an iron gate. But, as time went by, the wine bottles started disappearing. It seemed that this cellar was not a secret after all and that the townspeople, who had heard of his prized wines, had to try them out.

In his effort to find a new way to protect his treasure, Don Melchor spread the rumor of strange nighttime events with demonic presences. Being superstitious, the local people feared that the devil inhabited the cellars, so they stayed cleared of them. That is how Casillero del Diablo acquired its devilish name. Over time, the winery has into one of the most famous Chilean wine firms, available in over 140 countries.

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Best From Argentina

Tasting Notes

Aromas of raisins and red berries blend nicely together to stir interest on the nose, as the thick, albeit bitter, flavors of pears, apples, and blackberries, drive into a wood spice finish, packed with a core of oak influences. Bright ruby and with fragrances of raspberries, cherries, redcurrants, and raisins, Alfredo Roca Fincas Pinot Noir starts with a vibrant appearance and a fruit-forward nose.

As the wine enters the mouth, a refreshing acidity greets the taste buds, while the subtle tannins complement the flavors of pears, apples, and blackberries. Next, waves of oak hints define the finish, primarily vanilla spice, tobacco, smoke, chocolate, and cedar.

The Pursuit of a Dream Led to the Production of Fantastic Wines

Based in Argentina’s renowned Mendoza winemaking zone, Alfredo Roca winery has produced wines since 1976, when enologist Alfredo Roca fulfilled his dream of establishing his own wine firm. He sourced his fruit from the family vineyards. Today, his children are running the winery. It has adapted to the modern market via the implementation of state-of-the-art technology. With the motto Family Dedication, Wines with Souls, Alfredo Roca strives to craft outstanding wines expressive of the Argentinian temperament.

Conclusion

These are the best Pinot Noir under $10. Pinot is an intricate and delicate variety, so it is more likely to find high-quality Pinot Noir wines at astronomical prices. That said, the above wines are as perfect as possible, considering their approachable price point. So, visit your local wine merchant and buy any of them as soon as you can!