The Beauty of Pinot Noir
Pinot noir is a variety of grape commonly referred to as Pinot Nero and Blauburgunder. It is used to make red wines predominantly associated with the Burgundy region of France and is the 10th most planted grape variety in the world. Pinot Noir grapes can be grown around the world but produce the best results when planted in cooler climates. They cost more than the average grape which makes one wonder, what it is about the Pinot Noir that makes it so special?
Rich History, Flavor, and Aroma
For one thing, the varietal is a lot older than Cabernet Sauvignon. In fact, cultivating Pinot Noir for wines goes back 1,000 years, to the time of the Romans. Because of the beautiful strawberry, raspberry, or cherry-like red fruit aroma they give, Pinot Noir grapes are used to make some of the best red wines, sparkling white wines, and champagnes. Their high cost comes from the medium to the high difficulty of cultivating them. Pinot Noir grapes are delicate with their thin layer of skin so a lot of care and expertise is required to handle them. If you’ve been fascinated with this wine, here is a list of some of the top Pinot Noir wines under $50.
Best Pinot Noir Wines Under $50
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- Name — Belle Glos Las Alturas Vineyard Pinot Noir
- Winery — Belle Glos
- Country/Region — United States, Saint Lucia Highlands, Monterey County, California
- Type — Californian Pinot Noir
- Aroma — Black Cherry, Marion Berry, And Ripe Plum
- Grapes — Pinot Noir
- Taste — Dark Fruit, Wild Berries, Caramelized Oak, Cacao Nibs, Vanilla, Cedar
- Alcohol Content — 14.8%
- Sugar — Dry
- Pairing — Anything Pork And Beef, Mushrooms, Chocolate Strawberries
Looking for a top vintage? For many wine connoisseurs, their search frequently ends with Las Alturas Vineyard Pinot Noir by Belle Glos. This Pinot Noir is a timeless classic with its deep garnet shade and aromatic symphony of black cherry, Marion berry, ripe plum, and just the right amount of anise. It tastes strongly of dark fruits and toasty melted caramel complemented with notes of vanilla, cedar, and just a hint of lavender. The finish is just right thanks to the balance of red and dark fruits that control the acidity.
Belle Glos is known for showcasing the most distinctive Pinot Noir grown and produced along the coastal regions of Napa Valley, California, home to many noteworthy vineyards. This family business began its wine-making venture in 1972. It has since grown to include a series of vineyards that span the coastal region of the sunshine state. The Pacific Ocean’s climate provides varying fog, wind, soil types, and sunlight which allows Belle Glos to create a distinctive Pinot Noir. Every grape distills the essence of the locale in which they were grown, resulting in flavorful expressions that are revealed in the tasting notes of all their wines.
Best Value
- Name — Böen Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
- Winery — Böen
- Country/Region — United States, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California
- Type — Californian Pinot Noir
- Aroma — Raspberry Tart, Blueberry, Dried Rosemary, Molasses
- Grapes — Pinot Noir
- Taste — Cherry, Dark Chocolate, Toast, Hint Of Smoke
- Alcohol Content — 14.7%
- Sugar — Dry
- Pairing — Lamb Chops, Smoked Brisket, Eggplant Parmesan, Potatoes Au Gratin
Pinot Noir is one of those wine types that showcases the region’s biodiversity in its tasting notes. Few winemakers have studied this with the same economic and budget-friendly approach as Böen. The wine has an almost crimson or ruby-like color. It gives off an aroma of molasses, dried rosemary, blueberry, and raspberry tart — a unique medley that can only come from the earth’s diverse flavors and scents. Few places on earth achieve the same harmonious flavors as the Russian River Valley in Sonoma County. It’s no wonder that it is one of the most sought-after wine-growing regions in California. The opulence of minerals in this area gives Böen’s wines a classic Californian texture and flavor.
The Russian River Valley offers one of the coolest climates in all of Sonoma County due to the fog traveling up the Russian River making it ideal for the development and ripening of Pinot Noir. The tasting notes include a gushing blend of strawberry, boysenberry pie, and blackberry with flavors like brown sugar, nutmeg, and cocoa on the finish. It is a well-structured wine that gives you a lot of value for its reasonable price. Böen lives up to its name by providing an enduring richness on the palate with a hint of smoke.
Best From California
- Name — EnRoute Les Pommiers Pinot Noir
- Winery — EnRoute
- Country/Region — United States, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California
- Type — Californian Pinot Noir
- Aroma — Plum, Pomegranate, Clove, Floral Notes
- Grapes — Pinot Noir
- Taste — Ripe Strawberry, Candy, Jam, Plum, And Cherry
- Alcohol Content — 14.7%
- Sugar — Dry
- Pairing — Salads, Seafood, Casseroles
EnRoute Les Pommiers Pinot Noir is the best Pinot Noir wine under $50 (not couting the Belle Glos) . It is the first successful project by winemakers Far Niente and the Napa Valley Wine Estates. It has a well-rounded flavor with earthy cinnamon notes devoid of any under-ripeness. At first glance, it has a bright ruby shade. As you pour it into the glass, it has reflections of magenta around the edges. The translucence of the liquid denotes the thin skin of the grapes it was made from.
Its aromatic profile consists of prominent bing cherry and raspberry scents with layers of pomegranate, plum, clove, and floral notes. The start is juicy, like candy, due to the densely concentrated flavors of red and dark fruit which gives the palate a silk-smooth finish. The berry pot pourri also gives the drinker a subtle but lingering hint of baking spice notes, making it the perfect companion for salty foods. Like Belle Glos, the wineries of EnRoute are situated on the north coast of the Russian River Valley in Sonoma, California.
Best From Oregon
- Name — Penner-Ash Pinot Noir
- Winery — Alexander Valley Estate
- Country/Region — United States, Willamette Valley, Oregon
- Type — Oregon Pinot Noir
- Aroma — Red Fruit, Black Cherry, Chocolate, Floral Notes
- Grapes — Pinot Noir
- Taste — Strawberry, Raspberry, Cherry, Oak, Hint of Spice
- Alcohol Content — 13.5%
- Sugar — Dry
- Pairing — Calamari, Escargot, Lobster, Salmon, Filet Mignon
Penner-Ash Wine Cellars are committed to crafting wines that reflect the unique diversity of Willamette Valley, one of the finest regions for farming grapes in Oregon. Founders Lynn and Ron Penner-Ash founded the company in 1998 out of a shared vision for creating lush and layered Pinot Noirs. Over the years, the pair has built strong ties with the community of farmers in the valley and has become known for the high quality of their wines as well as their sustainable operations.
Spread over 15 acres, the Penner-Ash vineyards are on southeast-facing hills giving their grapes the ideal exposure for growth. They receive direct sunlight which helps them achieve a more nuanced ripeness. This gives the Penner-Ash Pinot Noir its unique crimson shade. You’ll catch a whiff of strawberry, cherry, and toasted pecans which reflect the grapes’ proximity to the ocean.
It tastes of strawberry jam, ripe cherry, and brown sugar married to peppercorn mineral notes. It’s a successful blend as the first sip hits you with a stream of plush fruit that balances the savory with the sweet. The finish is almost velvety, like nectar or honey trickling from the rooftop of your mouth courtesy of Willamette Valley’s mixed landscapes. The Willamette Valley is a pastoral, diverse landscape of rolling hills and lush green forests. As a key leader in the environmental protection of biodiversity, this valley has some of the most stringent land-use policies.
Best From Australia
- Name — Dalrymple Pinot Noir
- Winery — Dalrymple
- Country/Region — Coal Valley, Tasmania, Australia
- Type — Australian Pinot Noir
- Aroma — Black Plum, Black Wild Berries, Raspberry With Spice Notes
- Grapes — Pinot Noir
- Taste — Blackcurrant, Strawberry With Notes Of Italian Seasoning
- Alcohol Content — 13.5%
- Sugar — Dry
- Pairing — Sausage, Seafood, Pasta Primavera
The best wines don’t come from the best countries. They come from the best regions within countries and the land ‘down under’ has beautiful wine-growing climes in spades. This wine has a dark garnet shade. It has ripe black plums, wild blackberries, and raspberries with highlights of dried Italian herbs and floral notes on the nose. After opening, the wine takes some time for the tannins to settle, but becomes a lot more complex as you catch a whiff of blue fruits. On the palate, you have juicy black fruits like blackcurrants and plum with a fine balance of natural acidity and some sweetness from red fruits and baking spices.
This Pinot Noir is produced in Coal Valley, southeast Tasmania which explains the coastal mineral notes that linger on the finish. Tasmania, an Australian island state, receives ample rainfall throughout the year with cool Mediterranean summer climates on the coastline, ideal for fermenting grapes. Tasmania is known throughout Australia for its beautiful Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc. Unlike the rest of Australia, Tasmania’s relatively cooler climate throughout the year gives its wines a distinct flavor and aroma profile.
Best From France
- Name — Benjamin Leroux Bourgogne Rouge
- Winery — Benjamin Leroux
- Country/Region — Beaune, Côte de Beaune, Burgundy, France
- Type — French Pinot Noir
- Aroma — Strawberry, Raspberry, Touch Of Chocolate
- Grapes — Pinot Noir
- Taste — Sour Cherries, Dried Herbs, Cocoa With Undertones Of Hay And Smoke
- Alcohol Content — 13%
- Sugar — Dry
- Pairing — Roasted Duck Or Beef, Chinese Stir-fries
French wines are hard to miss for any wine lover and it’s certainly the case for Bourgogne Rouge by Benjamin Leroux. Benjamin is an exceptional talent when it comes to delivering the purity of the grape with a smooth grain to its finish and delicate notes of oak. The Bourgogne Rouge is a feminine rouge in color. It has a rich scent that denotes its full-bodied flavor. Its aroma will remind you of strawberries, raspberries, and spring bliss with delicious notes of mocha.
Benjamin Leroux sources its grapes from the fertile vineyards of Maison Dieu in Pommard, Les Mont Pellans in Meursault, and other wineries in Volnay. The combination of France’s fertile plains, ideal wine climate, and this winemaker’s philosophy of only obtaining grapes from the top growers each year, give the wine its compelling characteristics. The texture is fine and smooth, like drinking nectar. The smoothness of the flavors slides across the palate. Every sip offers a unique taste that accentuates the complexity of the wine’s structure. It offers a praiseworthy finish with a beautiful blend of juicy berries and French seasoning, instantly making it a top-rated Pinot Noir under $50.
Best From New Zealand
- Name — Amisfield Pinot Noir
- Winery — Amisfield
- Country/Region — Central Otago, South Island, New Zealand
- Type — New Zealand Pinot Noir
- Aroma — Cherries, Raspberries, Tobacco, Pepper
- Grapes — Pinot Noir
- Taste — Dark Cherry, Mulberry, Chocolate, And Leather
- Alcohol Content — 14%
- Sugar — Dry
- Pairing — Oysters, Veal Chops, Grilled Duck Sausages
One of the most southern sources for wine, New Zealand, produces Pinot Noir that is known for its purity, vibrancy, and intensity. Its distinct geography and cool climate afford the grapes a long period for ripening leading to the development of flavor, balance, and fresh acidity. This is reflected in Amisfield’s wines, a popular New Zealand brand with limited-edition red wines made from carefully selected barrels. Not all vineyards pass Amisfield’s strict standards.
Amisfield’s vineyards create the best-quality fruits with a vibrant acidity that’s achieved organically. The sloping roof of the mountains behind the winery provides the ideal conditions for slow but firm ripening. At a glance, the wine is bright red with purple hues. It has a smooth texture with fine-grained tannins for a delectable finish. The nose is an almost equal balance of earthy aromas like tobacco, cocoa, mushrooms, and fruits like dark cherry, plums, and mild raspberry topped with a measure of pepper and spice for character. On the palate, it gives a rich dark forest berry taste with generous amounts of chocolate and leather for balance. This is a fascinating wine that can be paired with many foods due to its balanced profile.
Best From Chile
- Name — Cono Sur 20 Barrels Limited Edition Pinot Noir
- Winery — Cono Sur
- Country/Region — Casablanca Valley, Aconcagua, Chile
- Type — Chilean Pinot Noir
- Aroma — Cherry, Strawberry, Oak, Thyme
- Grapes — Pinot Noir
- Taste — Red Cherry, Dried Berries, Fruit Punch With A Hint Of Oak
- Alcohol Content — 13.5%
- Sugar — Dry
- Pairing — Turkey, Roast Salmon Or Chicken, Basil, Pesto, Mushroom Dishes
Did you know that this winemaker’s name “cono sur” is a play on the word connoisseur because of their passion for complex flavors? Cono Sur Vineyards and Winery is the third biggest wine exporter in Chile. They are known for their delicious, aromatic wines that feature a uniquely Latin flavor. They pride themselves in expressing all the flavors and aromas of their unique biodiversity and culture through organically fermented and robustly structured wines. Their 20 Barrels Limited Edition Pinot Noir is a perfect example.
Since Chile’s unique geography offers multiple areas for growing distinctive grapes, Cono Sur has vineyards spaced throughout the country. Their Pinot Noir is sourced from the moderate climate of the Casablanca Valley where the temperatures remain cool even during the harshest Chilean summers. The 20 Barrels Limited Edition Pinot Noir is easily the smoothest wine I’ve ever tasted and goes down like water. It has dried berries, red wild fruits, and a touch of pepper on the nose with hints of tobacco and vanilla on the finish.
Best From South Africa
- Name — Hamilton Russell Vineyards Pinot Noir
- Winery — Hamilton Russell
- Country/Region — Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, Western Cape, South Africa
- Type — South African Pinot Noir
- Aroma — Cherry And Raspberry With Heavy Earthy Notes Of Smoke And Clove
- Grapes — Pinot Noir
- Taste — Mineral-toned Cherry, Plum With Finishing Notes Of Dark Chocolate
- Alcohol Content — 14.2%
- Sugar — Dry
- Pairing — Lamb Kebabs, Venison Burgers, Veal, And Beef Carpaccio
Hamilton Russel is a South African winery that specializes in Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. It is one of South Africa’s leading pioneers in viticulture. In addition to wines, they also specialize in honey. The Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, located just two miles from the Atlantic Ocean, is one of South Africa’s coolest regions. Its stony clay-rich soil receives abundant sunlight making it an ideal location for Hamilton Russell’s vineyards. South Africa’s soil is among the richest in the entire world with agriculture that often surpasses other countries.
The evidence is in the mellow but somber earthiness of their wines’ fragrance. Mineral notes tell the story of a great nation that has survived tremendous strife yet whose soil remains bountiful and abundant with nutrients. There are layers of flavor with an unmistakable taste of smoked cherry mixed in with green pepper and tobacco on the finish. Hamilton Russel offers a fruity wine with occasional sour cranberry notes, but the earthiness is something to behold with its graceful and subtle taste. This elegant wine pairs well with a variety of cuisines but complements smoked meats extremely well especially during the evening.
Best From Spain
- Name — Celler de Capçanes Flor de Primavera Peraj Ha’abib
- Winery — Celler de Capçanes
- Country/Region — Montsant Tarragona, Catalunya, Spain
- Type — Spanish Pinot Noir
- Aroma — Ripe Plums, Cassis With Hints Of Vanilla, Tobacco, And Oak
- Grapes — Pinot Noir
- Taste — Ripe Blackberries, Blueberries, Orange Peel, And Black Tea
- Alcohol Content — 14.8%
- Sugar — Dry
- Pairing — Roasted Lamb Chops With Ratatouille, Barbecue, Roasted Beef, Veal
Capçanes resembles a scenic village from a fairy tale. It is located in the beautiful northeastern province of Tarragona in Spain. The village is mostly occupied with agriculture and is prolific for its luscious wines. Peraj Ha’abib Flor de Primavera is one of Capçanes’ finest vintages. It’s made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Carinena, and Garnacha grape varieties. It’s a complex wine with layers of flavor that wets the tongue with a mere description of it.
The wine has a dark, cherry red color that is reminiscent of beetroot juice. Its complexity shines after one whiff as it instantly reveals an array of ripened fruits like plums and cassis with generous notes of vanilla and tobacco. In terms of taste, there were notes of black tea in this earthy wine’s elegantly structured layers. Peraj Ha’abib is a high-tannin, medium-bodied wine that’s best paired with roasted meat. If you’re so inclined, you can allow the tannins some time to soften to experience a smoother finish.
Conclusion
Pinot Noirs are all about elegance, but with restraint and nuance. They range from fruity and acidic to earthy and mild depending on the nature and quality of both the soil and climate. With a modest budget of $50, there are well-made and even excellent wines available. If you’re in the market for a Pinot Noir, you don’t have to break the bank for a bottle as there is a lot of good Pinot Noir under $50.
