Looking for the best Pinot Noir wines under $25? Pinot Noir can be expensive, particularly wines from the Burgundy region, but you'll still find plenty of bargain Pinot Noirs from wine regions around the world.
Best California Pinot Noir Wines Under $25
Pinot Noir generally requires cooler climates, and regions that receive Pacific maritime air have proven the best for California Pinot Noir. The best California Pinot Noirs come from Sonoma County, Carneros, Mendocino County, and the Central Coast regions that include Monterey, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Barbara Counties. The best appellations to look for are Santa Maria Valley, Russian River Valley, Carneros, Anderson Valley, Pinnacles, and Santa Lucia Highlands. The following are some reliable choices that can be counted on in your search for Pinot Noir happiness in a bottle.
Prophecy Pinot Noir - $10
Reviewers at Total Wine & More give Prophecy Pinot Noir five stars out of five. Expect notes of cherry, berry, and spices in a $10 bottle of wine. At that price, this wine is a total bargain.
Coppola Diamond Pinot Noir - $15
The Coppola Diamond Pinot Noir costs around $15 per bottle, but it gets some decent ratings. For example, Beverage Dynamics rated the 2015 vintage 91 points. Expect a lightly spicy, smoky Pinot Noir.
Parducci Small Lot Pinot Noir - $20
This Mendocino County Pinot Noir only costs $20 per bottle, but it's been well-received by critics. Wine Enthusiast rated the 2017 vintage of Parducci Small Lot Pinot Noir 90 points. Here, you'll find flavors of earth, rose, and berries.
San Simeon Monterey Pinot Noir - $20
The $20 San Simeon Monterey Pinot Noir is rich and filled with luscious berry flavors. Critics like it; the 2017 vintage received a 93 point rating from Tasting Panel, and other vintages usually receive ratings in the 90 point range.
Sanford Rosé of Pinot Noir - $20
If you prefer a lighter style wine, then Sanford Rosé of Pinot Noir is a great way to still enjoy Pinot Noir. At around $20 per bottle, you'll discover citrus and tropical flavors in this lovely rosé. Wine Enthusiast generally rates this wine around 91 points.
Meomi Pinot Noir - $25
From vintage to vintage, Meomi Pinot Noir receives ratings from experts at around 90 points and sometimes higher. It contains a blend of grapes from Santa Barbara County, Monterey, and Sonoma Valley. Expect lovely fruit flavors and aromas with a hint of toasty oak for $25.
Schug Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir - $25
The Schug Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir exhibits bright flavors of cherries and raspberries in a lively cool climate Pinot Noir from the Sonoma Coast. It costs just $25 per bottle but frequently receives 90+ point ratings from wine critics.
Oregon's Best Inexpensive Pinot Noir
Oregon Pinot Noirs vary in style, ranging from big, bold, and vibrant to a lighter, more nuanced Burgundian style. The best Pinot Noirs in Oregon generally come from the North and South Willamette Valley and Yamhill County. However, don't discount Umpqua Valley or Rogue Valley wines.
King's Ridge Pinot Noir - $18
James Suckling liked the 2016 vintage of Kings Ridge Pinot Noir, awarding it 92 points. Expect flavors of cherries and earthy notes for around $18 per bottle.
Cloudline Pinot Noir - $20
The Pinot Noir from Cloudline is a good budget option across vintages. It generally receives a rating of 90+ points from wine critics, and it's a vibrant, balanced wine for under $20. Expect notes of cherry and berries.
Sokol Blosser Evolution Pinot Noir - $20
Jammy is the word that best describes the bold Sokol Blosser Evolution Pinot Noir from a well-known and respected Willamette Valley winery. It costs under $20 per bottle, and you'll find ripe fruits and toasty oak. It's a Pinot that garners ratings in the low 90s (91 to 92 points typically). This is a great value wine.
La Crema Pinot Noir Willamette - $25
In La Crema Pinot Noir Willamette, expect flavors of cherry and peppercorn in a vibrant Pinot Noir that costs around $29 per bottle. Wine Spectator rated the 2015 vintage 91 points.
Pinot Envy Willamette Valley Pinot Noir - $25
The wine world loves a great double entendre, and the Pinot Envy Willamette Valley Pinot Noir with a photo of Freud on the label delivers on the pun, as well as on flavor and price. It's a $25 Pinot Noir that has received 90+ point ratings from Wine Spectator and James Suckling, and it has flavors of plums, blackberries, and anise.
Ponzi Tavola Pinot Noir - $25
Ponzi Vineyards is one of Oregon's oldest wineries, making wines since 1970. The Ponzi Tavola Pinot Noir uses grapes grown in Oregon's Willamette Valley. This Pinot Noir from Ponzi only costs $25, but it usually rates above 90 points with notes of cedar, cinnamon, and blackberry.
Willamette Valley Vineyards Whole Cluster Pinot Noir - $25
Willamette Valley Vineyards Whole Cluster Pinot Noir is fruity and lush with strawberry and leather flavors and aromas. At $25 per bottle, it's usually well-received by critics, rating 90 points across vintages and critics.
Pinot Noir Bargains From Around the World
French Burgundies can be quite expensive, but that doesn't mean there aren't bargains. In fact, you can find some Burgundy wines for under $15 per bottle with a little searching. Pinot Noir is also gaining acclaim in New Zealand and in other wine-growing countries of the New World as winemakers learn to cultivate this persnickety grape. You'll find numerous bargain wines from around the world.
Tinga Reserve Pinot Noir (Chile) - $12
Some of the best Pinot Noir bargains come from Chile, such as this Tinga Reserve Pinot Noir. At about $12 per bottle, you can't go wrong, and there's a lot to like here. It's fresh and acidic with hints of strawberry. James Suckling likes it; he's rated a few recent vintages at 91 points.
Ritual Casablanca Valley Pinot Noir (Chile) - $18
Ritual Casablanca Valley Pinot Noir is one of the bargains of the Pinot Noir world where the value is off the charts. This Pinot Noir from Chile only costs $18, but it frequently receives ratings of 92+ from critics. Expect floral notes with hints of cranberry and berries.
Errazuriz Max Reserva Pinot Noir (Chile) - $20
This is another great Chilean Pinot Noir bargain. The Errazuriz Max Reserva Pinot Noir often receives ratings of 90 points or above from critics, and it costs just $20 a bottle. It has flavors of rose hips, tobacco, and raspberries.
Jules Taylor Pinot Noir (New Zealand) - $20
At around $20 per bottle, the Jules Taylor Pinot Noir from Marlborough, New Zealand is juicy and tangy and is well rated by critics. Expect raspberries, cherries, and some spicy oak. Critics typically rate this wine anywhere from 90 to 93 points, making it an easy choice.
Louis Jadot Pinot Noir Bourgogne (Burgundy, France)- $20
Louis Jadot is a name that's well-known in Burgundian winemaking, and the Louis Jadot Pinot Noir Bourgogne is a delicious expression of how a Pinot Noir from the famous French wine region can taste. It's also a bargain at $20 per bottle. The 2015 vintage was listed on Wine Spectator's top 100 wines of the year for 2018 (it was #68). Expect flavors of cherries, strawberries, and a hint of graphite.
Peter Yealands Pinot Noir (New Zealand) - $20
The Peter Yealands Pinot Noir from New Zealand's Marlborough region has notes of chocolate, cherries, and leather. It's well received by critics, generally garnering ratings in the low 90-point range, and it only costs $20.
Zorzal Gran Terroir Pinot Noir (Argentina) - $20
Zorzal Gran Terroir Pinot Noir hails from Argentina's Mendoza wine region. Robert Parker awarded the 2016 vintage this Pinot Noir 93 points. For a $20 bottle of wine, that's a bargain, and you'll find flavors of violets and minerals.
Manos Negras Red Soil Select Pinot Noir (Argentina) - $21
The Manos Negras Red Soil Select Pinot Noir is an aromatic Pinot Noir that hails from Patagonia, Argentina. It only costs $21 per bottle. James Suckling loved the 2014 vintage, awarding it 93 points and calling it "juicy and delicious".
D'Autrefois Pinot Noir (France)- $22
D'Autrefois Pinot Noir is an exceptionally affordable Pinot Noir from France. A 1.5 L bottle will set you back just $22, but reviewers on Total Wine & More love it, giving it five out of five stars. Expect flavors of berry, cherry, and vanilla.
Helen & Joey Layla Pinot Noir (Australia) - $25
Helen & Joey Layla Pinot Noir is a $25 bottle of Pinot Noir from Yarra Valley, Australia. It is fruity and filled with strawberry flavors. It's an easy drinker that garners high ratings of 92+ points.
Innocent Bystander Central Otago Pinot Noir (New Zealand) - $25
Innocent Bystander Central Otago Pinot Noir is a $25 New Zealand Pinot Noir. It is fruity, spicy, and downright delicious. Vintages generally rate around 90 points, often higher.
Enjoy Affordable Pinot Noir
Once you find a choice bottle of Pinot Noir, enjoy it on its own, or pair it with strong, richly flavored dishes. Pinor Noirs pair well with salmon, duck, lamb, and other meaty flavors, as well as with mushrooms and foods that have earthy flavors and aromas.
