More Additions to Under $30 Pinot Noir Worth Drinking

2018 Bogle Vineyards California Pinot Noir

14.5% alc., $8.88 (Pavilions supermarket on bottom shelf). Vinted and bottled by Bogle Vineyards, Clarksburg, CA. Wine Enthusiast American Winery of the Year 2019. · Moderately light garnet color in the glass. Black cherry aroma infused with baking spices and a hint of toasty oak. Flavors of darkest cherry and black raspberry in a light to mid-weight style with a dusting of oak in the background. Silky tannins and easygoing, with a juicy, cherry-fueled finish. Excellent value. Score: 89

2018 Juggernaut Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

14.5% alc., pH 3.68, TA 0.54, $18.88 (Pavilions supermarket). Produced and bottled by Juggernaut Wine Co, Clarksburg, CA (part of the Bogle Family). Released June 2020. Very attractive label and very heavy bottle. Aged 12 months in both new and used French oak barrels. · Moderately light garnet color in the glass. Pleasant but very demure aroma of black cherry and a hint of toasty oak. Much better on the palate, with mid-weight, flavors of black cherry, raspberry and cola backed by soft tannins. There is a little too much oak in the background most evident on the somewhat lengthy finish. Best when first opened but the nose never really comes alive. I prefer the much less expensive Bogle California Pinot Noir produced by the same company. Score: 88

2019 The Pinot Project California Pinot Noir

13.5% alc., $10.99 (Bottle Barn, Santa Rosa). Vinted and bottled by The Pinot Project, Geyserville, CA. · Moderately light garnet color in the glass. Inviting aromas of red cherry, allspice and oak spice. Light to mid-weight in style, featuring flavors of cherry and ripest strawberry with a dustin go oak. No rough edges, with silky tannins and a cherry-fueled finish with some length. Excellent value. Score: 89

2019 Trader Joe’s Lot #207 Sonoma Coast Reserve Pinot Noir

13.8% alc., $9.99 (Trader Joe’s, various locations). Vinted and bottled by ABJ Wines, Geyserville, CA. (Also, look for “Platinum Reserve” lineup of Pinot Noir from Russian River Valley, Spring Mountain and Sta. Rita Hills, all priced at $14.99. Trader Joe’s Pinot Noir can be hit or miss as the source may be over-produced bulk wine, even declassified wine, acquired from varying sources with each release. · Moderately light garnet color in the glass. This beauty reeks of pinotosity. Moderately light garnet color in the glass. Aromas of strawberry, cranberry and rose petal. Lighter in weight, but packed with delightful black cherry, raspberry and cinnamon spice flavors. Only a phantom touch of oak. Still very good when tasted several hours later from a previously opened bottle. Pour this wine in an expensive empty bottle of Pinot Noir and fool your friends! A total steal at this price. Score: 90

2018 Niner Wine Estates Edna Valley Pinot Noir

14.5% alc., $24.95 (K&L Wines, San Francisco). Produced and bottled by Niner Wine Estates, Paso Robles, CA. Sourced from the familyowned, estate Jespersen Ranch Vineyard that is sustainably farmed. 7 clones. 100% Pinot Noir. · Moderate garnet color in the glass. Effusive aroma of black cherry with a hint of toasty oak. Mid-weight plus core of luscious black cherry and blackberry fruit flavors.The delightful charge of fruit has the support of adequate acidity and complimentary fine-grain tannins. Wellmade with good harmony. Score: 91