Cheap Pinot Noir, Any Good Ones?

Cheap Pinot Noir, Any Good Ones? – Episode #259

June 19, 2007

Pinot Noir is HOT and everyone is all about it but are there any good ones under ten bones?

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Comments on this episode(243) Leave a comment ›

“Hands down Talus Shiraz was the most god awful wine i have ever tasted…” by Dennis
“A question…is Pinot Noir considered a light bodied wine or full bodi…” by Adrian
View all 243 ›

Wines tasted in this episode:

Talus Pinot NoirOther California Pinot Noir
Lindemans Pinot Noir Bin 99Australian Pinot Noir
Cavit Pinot NoirTrentino Alto Adige IGT
Barkan Pinot NoirIsraeli Kosher Wine

243 Responses

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June 19, 2007

Shadowbird
QOTD: I did once have a bad bottle of Barefoot Shiraz, though. Couldn’t even drink one glass.
June 19, 2007

Shadowbird
Never had Pinot Noir, but after this episode, I may hold off on that.
June 19, 2007

Napa Spa
worst ever? – pepperwood grove pinot noir or sutter home pinot noir it’s a toss up.
June 19, 2007

JoeinLA
Great Episode even with the awful koolaid…

I loved the ” I might want to run this glass through the carwash” line…

Another night/ next day of Palatte recovery. Last time I think it was Sauternes atfer the two buch chuck debacle.Whats it going to be tomorrow?
June 19, 2007

SacramentoCharlie
…Good Episode…blah, blah, blah…let’s talk about the new ad in the new Wine Spectator !!! Nice Pub !!! We’ll be seeing GV on Conan or the Today Show before too long. Forget LeBron, we are all witnesses to GV blowing up !!!
June 19, 2007

Justmarsh
I’m glad you did this episode. I’ve never tasted a good pinot under $10. What’s better buying 4 undrinkable $8 bottles or one good $30 bottle?
June 19, 2007

Jerry the 2THDR
QOTD: I didn’t know you could but a bottle of wine for under $10. A box yes a bottle no. 2thdr
June 19, 2007

Tad
QOTD…Mark West Pinot Noir. I tried to find a good cheap bottle like this episode and came away with the same results.
June 19, 2007

MikeyB
qotd: can’t think of terrible one since I usually wait for a recommendation, but this past Sunday my uncle did a blind light beer tasting and one of them (bud light) had been sitting in his fridge since 1986. I’m not kidding. Almost lost my lunch right there. I mean this bottle didn’t even look like a bud light. He says it was an accident. I think he was trying to unload some junk.
June 19, 2007

Harley Stan
Wow,three bombs in a row and a corked bottle

QOTD Denver, oh that was yesterdays question. Worst wine was simply called winemaker from moldova, it had a really cool bottle for 6 bones but the juice was horrid.
June 19, 2007

Mike In SLO
Brett monster? What’s that shirt look like?
June 19, 2007

Grapedigger
Mission impossible: Find a good Pinot
June 19, 2007

Grapedigger
Good Pinot
June 19, 2007

Mike In SLO
QOTD – A Los Vascos Cab I had a while back. Brett monsters!
June 19, 2007

stevo
I bought a Bordeaux from Trader Joe’s a few months ago for $7.99. Two sips was too many…right down the drain it went. I’ve blocked the name from memory.

BTW: Who is this Steve-o character?? I’m the real stevo!
June 19, 2007

selby hinkebein
cheap pinot usually taste like weasel piss Saintsbury had a decent P.N called GARNET@ $18
June 19, 2007

TommyBoBo of WI

If it was under $10 it would have been years ago and with inflation now a $20-$30 bottle. Life is too short to drink bad wine. Pay a little more, put yourself in a sweet spot of probability that the wine will be good.
I love what you’ve introduced to me these many months,,, but I ain’t drinking no *uck*** $10 WINE!!!!
June 19, 2007

SteveW
QOTD: Any wine from Trader Joe’s that costs less than $5.
June 19, 2007

E-Rock
Everything from CA under $10 prety much blows.
June 19, 2007

Justin
Hey Gary,

It looked like you weren’t enjoying this episode, but I have to admit I was loving it. I don’t have a ton of disposable income right now, so it’s great to hear some actual criticism of cheap wine just for contrast. Pinot’s are just too popular to have any quality at this price point though…but I highly recommend other ‘cheap wine’ episodes (for the other end of the sideways spectrum, do a cheap merlot episode).

QOTD: Can’t recall the brand, but it was a Chilean Malbec, and it tasted like a bucket of chalk. Like drinking the water used to wash a chalkboard.

-Justin
(out of lurker status)
June 19, 2007

Dave Canada
I’ll be honest Gary….I don’t usually drink wine under $10 for the exact reason this show illustrated….most of it is CRAP!
Also, why not spend an extra $5-10 and get something that is so much better. I just really don’t see why these wines exist? Make stuff that is worth drinking damnit!
QOTD – Ontario Cabernet….God I have had some shitty Ontario Cab (there are good ones I know…)
June 19, 2007

wtvLurker
i also got sucked in by the title but was disappointed that you didn’t find a good pinot in this episode. i am a long time (way pre-sideways) fan of PN. i was pissed for a while when sideways caused alot of good pinot to go up in price. i began to avoid pricey pinot (all pinot?). but recently im beginning to think that all the buzz has brought more supply and since quality in wine production *generally* improves, maybe its been a good thing. at around 10-13 bones there seems to be more and more decent new pinots. the agustinos, bogle, castle rock are some examples. i hear the cycle gladiator pinot is not bad for ~9 bones but haven’t tried it yet. what ever happened to the bad fish and hammond pinots gary?

a few episodes back your qotd was about whether or not to change the format. i think the consensus was to generally keep it the same (taste & results live) but occasionally mix it up and throw in wines you tasted recently and liked. i think this is a perfect opportunity for gary to taste some more at/under $10 pinots behind the scenes and do an episode with just the winner(s).
June 19, 2007

Dennis Cox
I see Pinot Noirs from places that historically never have had it planted. I avoid those. Like Italy. If I want to spend less than $10 on an Italian wine it’s made from an Italian grape.

QOTD Corbett Canyon Cabernet (it said on the label). My wife and I each took one sip, looked at each other and I said,”Thompson Seedless.” We poured the rest out and opened another bottle.
June 19, 2007

stewart l
With how bad these wines are, why do you even carry them in your store?
June 19, 2007

Susan
That would be too ACIDIC!!!!!!