You don't need to spend a fortune to enjoy a great Pinot Noir, but it pays to choose wisely. Pinot Noir is one of the most challenging grapes to grow, and the key to quality lies in the vineyard. Look for wines sourced from cooler climate vineyards, where slow ripening enhances complexity and preserves acidity. Excellent Pinot Noirs are available across various price points, but the best often come from these cooler areas. Be cautious with budget-friendly options from warmer regions, as they may not offer the same quality.
Discover YourWineStore's collection of the best Pinot Noirs from the world's finest cool-climate vineyards. To get you started, we've curated a list of our top 10 picks, ensuring there's a perfect bottle for every budget and palate. Pick your Pinot Noir with confidence from our diverse range of flavors and styles.
Pinot Noir Quick Facts
• Origin: Pinot Noir originated in Burgundy, France, where it has been cultivated for centuries. It has since been grown to great success in cool-climate regions beyond France, including the Willamette Valley in Oregon; Mendocino, Monterey, Santa Barbara, and Sonoma Counties in California; Yarra Valley, Australia; and Marlborough and Central Otago, New Zealand.
• Flavor Profile: Pinot Noir is appreciated for its enticing array of flavors, ranging from vibrant red fruits, like cherry and raspberry, to earthier tones featuring hints of mushroom and forest floor. Floral notes often add a delicate touch, creating a captivating bouquet.
• Body and Texture: Pinot Noir is typically light to medium-bodied, offering a silky smooth texture that makes it exceptionally approachable. Its elegance lies in its ability to be simultaneously light and complex.
• Acidity: Known for its medium to high acidity, Pinot Noir has a refreshing quality that makes it a versatile partner for a world of cuisines.
• Aging Potential: While Pinot Noir is easy to drink and approachable when young, it also possesses the ability to age gracefully. Over time, it develops intricate layers of flavors, aromas, and textures, revealing more of its earthy, dried fruit, and spicy characteristics.
• Pairing Versatility: This wine is a superstar when it comes to food pairings. It can complement a wide range of dishes, from poultry and pork to savory mushroom creations, making it a favorite among chefs and home cooks alike.
• Popular Regions: Burgundy remains the benchmark for Pinot Noir, but excellent examples are also found in the rolling hills of Oregon and the ocean-influenced vineyards along California’s coast, where the grape's true potential is often realized.
Our List of the 10 Best Pinot Noir Wines for Every Price Point
While all our Pinots are worthy, we've handpicked these 10 bottles to ensure you enjoy a range of price points and regions, without compromising on quality, flavor, or value.
Best Pinot Noir Under $20
Discover our staff favorites for easy-drinking, affordable, delicious Pinot Noir.
1. Carmel Road | Central Coast Monterey Pinot Noir 2021
What It Tastes Like: Cherry, raspberry, hints of spice
Food Pairings: Pairs well with grilled chicken, brick-oven pizza, pasta dishes, and light salads.
Why We Chose It: An awesome introduction to Pinot Noir, Carmel Road’s Central Coast Monterey offers a delightful experience at an unbeatable price. Sourced from benchland vineyards situated at the base of the Santa Lucia Highlands, this Pinot Noir has well-balanced acidity and richness combined with silky tannins to create a long, smooth finish.
Shop All Carmel Road
2. Murphy-Goode | California Pinot Noir 2022
What It Tastes Like: Black cherry, notes of vanilla
Food Pairings: Ideal with pizza, burgers, and roasted vegetables.
Why We Chose It: Murphy-Goode delivers a California Pinot Noir that’s both approachable and complex. Sourced from vineyards along California’s cool coast, this wine teems with juicy dark fruit flavors and mouthwatering acidity. Did we mention that it recently was awarded a Top 100 Best Buy Wine from Wine Enthusiast?
Best Pinot Noir Under $30
These Pinots are a step up in price, but worth the jump in complexity and finesse.
3. La Crema | Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2021
What It Tastes Like: Dense raspberry, blueberry, and blood orange along with subtle notes of baking spice
Food Pairings: Perfect with grilled salmon, mushroom dishes, and pork tenderloin.
Why We Chose It: La Crema’s Willamette Valley Pinot Noir showcases the best of Oregon’s cool-climate vineyards: A delicate, nuanced, and savory red wine with fine tannins. An incredible crowd-pleaser for the price.
Best Pinot Noir Under $50
These Pinots combine exceptional taste with unbeatable value, ensuring you enjoy premium quality for the price.
4. Siduri | Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir 2022
What It Tastes Like: Tart cherry, dark fruit, earthiness
Food Pairings: Complements BBQ, duck, lamb, and hearty stews.
Why We Chose It: Monterey’s famed Santa Lucia Highlands are known for producing hedonistic, rich Pinot Noir with lots of intrigue. This Siduri blend of several stellar vineyards doesn't disappoint. The palate pulls you in with its weighty mouthfeel, beckons another sip with its bright acidity, and keeps you there with its long finish. A perfect choice for those who enjoy a more robust Pinot Noir.
5. WillaKenzie Estate | Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2021
What It Tastes Like: Black cherry, black raspberry, rooibos, forest floor
Food Pairings: Excellent with poultry, soft cheeses, chanterelles, and roasted root vegetables.
Why We Chose It: Oregon Pinot Noir is considered one of the top values for Pinot Noir outside of Burgundy, and this Willamette Valley bottling from WillaKenzie Estate proves that point in spades. Elegant and finessed, with rich red and black fruit, dusty spice, and fragrant floral notes, this wine is one you’ll enjoy savoring on its own or pairing with a farm-to-table meal.
6. Kendall-Jackson | Jackson Estates Collection Anderson Valley Pinot Noir 2021
What It Tastes Like: Blueberry, black cherry, cola, sandalwood
Food Pairings: Pairs wonderfully with duck, grilled tuna, and charcuterie.
Why We Chose It: Anderson Valley is California’s hidden gem for cool-climate Pinot Noir. Nestled among the redwoods in Mendocino County, this narrow valley cuts through the mountains, allowing cold ocean wind and coastal fog to blanket the vines. This wine shows its cool-climate origins in its bright acidity, rich fruit flavors, and silky finish.
Best Pinot Noir Under $75
Indulge in Pinot Noirs that meld sophistication and distinctiveness to offer an exquisite and memorable tasting experience.
7. Copain | Anderson Valley Pinot Noir 2021
What It Tastes Like: Raspberry, red currant, earth, vanilla
Food Pairings: Ideal with beef tenderloin, roasted duck, and truffle dishes
Why We Chose It: The second Pinot Noir from Anderson Valley on our list, this wine is a standout with its elegant structure, silkiness, complexity, and refined flavors. Bright and fresh, this Pinot Noir will take you on an adventure to one of California's most remote winemaking regions.
8. Giant Steps | Yarra Valley Primavera Vineyard Pinot Noir 2020
What It Tastes Like: Wild strawberry, blueberry, umami
Food Pairings: Perfect with lamb, game meats, and mushroom risotto.
Why We Chose It: Giant Steps produces beautiful single-vineyard Pinot Noirs (and Chardonnays) from some of the most sought-after vineyards in Australia’s cool-climate Yarra Valley. Sourced from the Primavera Vineyard, this wine is Giant Steps’ most perfumed and floral Pinot Noir – a must-try for Pinot enthusiasts.
Best Splurge-Worthy Pinot Noir Under $125
Treat yourself to the epitome of luxury with Pinot Noirs that encapsulate unparalleled quality and elegance.
9. Penner-Ash Wine Cellars | Yamhill-Carlton Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir 2021
What It Tastes Like: Black cherry, warm plum, violets, sweet vanilla
Food Pairings: Pairs exquisitely with salmon, filet mignon, rack of lamb, and aged cheeses.
Why We Chose It: Planted in proximity to the Shea Vineyard, one of Oregon's “Grand Cru” sites, the Penner-Ash Estate Vineyard features 15-acres of vines surrounding the winery in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA. This Estate Pinot Noir is a luxurious choice with its rich, velvety texture, and intense aromas and flavors. Structured tannins and spiced oak give mid-palate weight that leads to a long, savory finish. Plus, we love that Penner-Ash is all about finding joy, sharing laughter, and lifting up their community
10. Cambria | Santa Maria Valley Barbara's Signature Pinot Noir 2018
What It Tastes Like: Cranberry, dark cherry, blueberry fruit, fresh earth, spice
Food Pairings: Complements gourmet dishes like beef Wellington, foie gras, and dark chocolate desserts.
Why We Chose It: Most people don’t think of cold climate when they think of Santa Barbara County, but owing to the region’s unique mountain range that runs east to west, Pacific Ocean fog and wind funnel into the vineyards and cool everything down. Barbara’s Signature Pinot Noir is named after Cambria Estate Winery’s owner, Barbara Banke. It is one of Cambria’s top wines—a powerful Pinot bursting with vivid red and blue fruit aromas and flavors, wrapped in unbelievable silkiness on the way to a long finish. Approachable now, this wine is also built for aging and will become even more complex with time.
Start Tasting the Best Pinot Noir
Our Top 10 list is just a small example of the high-quality, delicious Pinot Noir that you’ll find on YourWineStore. Whether you prefer a more fruit-forward, juicy version, or a more savory, earthy one, have fun exploring a world of Pinot Noir in our online store. We recommend starting with one of our top 10 picks, then exploring other wineries, regions, and styles. Cheers!
FAQs
What styles of Pinot Noir are there?
Pinot Noir can produce a range of wine styles, depending on where it is grown and how it is made. Here are some common styles of Pinot Noir and wineries that make them:
- Light and Fruity: These wines are often bright and fresh, with red fruit flavors like cherry, strawberry, and raspberry. They typically have lower tannins and are easy to drink.
- Carmel Road
- Murphy-Goode
- Nielson
- Earthy and Complex: This style features more earthy notes, such as mushroom, forest floor, and truffle, alongside the fruit flavors. These wines often have more structure and complexity.
- WillaKenzie Estate
- Brewer-Clifton
- Copain
- Giant Steps
- Zena Crown
- Maggy Hawk
- Rich and Spicy: Some Pinot Noirs are fuller-bodied with spicier notes, such as clove, cinnamon, and even a hint of vanilla, often due to aging in new French oak.
- Cambria
- Penner-Ash
- Kendall-Jackson
- Rosé of Pinot Noir: Made from the same grape but with minimal skin contact, these wines are lighter in color and body, offering refreshing acidity and strawberry and watermelon flavors.
- La Crema
- Copain
- WillaKenzie
- Sparkling: Pinot Noir is one of the three main grapes used to produce Champagne, contributing body and complexity. You’ll find stellar examples of Champagne method sparkling wine on YourWineStore.
- Gran Moraine
- Matanzas Creek
What food does Pinot Noir pair well with?
Low in tannins and medium to high in acidity, Pinot Noir is a rockstar when it comes to pairing. We love it with Brie and goat cheese. A rich or earthy Pinot can support a filet mignon, lamb, or sausage. Of course, what grows together, goes together, so one of the supreme pairings, especially for Oregon Pinot, is salmon. An earthy, umami Pinot is lovely to serve with a mushroom or soy-focused dish. A Pinot Noir aged partially in new French oak will also have the sweetness to complement crème brûlée, oatmeal cookies, or white chocolate desserts.
What are some good Pinot Noir regions?
Pinot Noir thrives in cool-climate regions, where it can ripen slowly and evenly while holding onto its acidity.
Here are some Pinot Noir regions you can explore at YourWineStore:
How long can I store Pinot Noir?
The storage duration for Pinot Noir can vary based on its style and quality. Here's a general guideline:
- Everyday Pinot Noir: These are typically meant to be consumed within three to five years of the vintage date. They are often lighter and more fruit-forward.
- Premium Pinot Noir: Higher-quality bottles, especially those from renowned regions like Burgundy, can age well for 10 to 15 years or more. These wines develop more complex flavors over time.
- Storage Conditions: Proper storage is crucial for aging wine. Keep Pinot Noir in a cool, dark place with a consistent temperature (ideally around 55°F or 13°C) and moderate humidity. Store bottles on their side to keep the cork moist.
What should I look for on a Pinot Noir label?
When examining a Pinot Noir label, here are some key elements to consider:
- Region: The region can greatly influence the wine's style and flavor profile. For example, Burgundy in France is known for earthy and complex Pinot Noirs, while California and Oregon often produce fruitier styles.
- Vintage: The year the grapes were harvested can affect the wine's taste. Some vintages are better than others due to weather conditions, so it's worth checking reviews or guides for specific years.
- Producer: The winery or producer can be an indicator of quality. Familiarize yourself with reputable producers known for their Pinot Noir.
- Alcohol Content: This can give you an idea of the wine's body and intensity. Higher alcohol content often means a fuller-bodied wine.
- Tasting Notes: Some labels include descriptions of the wine's flavor profile, such as notes of cherry, raspberry, or earthy undertones.
- Appellation: This indicates the specific area within a region where the grapes were grown, which can further hint at the wine's characteristics.
- Sustainability Certifications: Look for labels indicating organic, biodynamic, or sustainable practices if these are important to you.