8th Annual
Pinot Noir Shootout & Summit

Bang for Your Buck Pinot Noir

Bang for Your Buck Wines
(Great Pinot Noir for $20 and under )

Scores: Men Judges
Scores: Men Judges Bang for Your Buck
Summary

= Love at First Sip

Gloria Ferrer Blanc de Noirs
Carneros, $20.00

(90)
Female: Lots and lots of effervescence in the glass. Golden in color with a hint of pink/salmon tones. Beautiful aromatics - wow! Enticing yeast, baked dough and layers of stone fruit. Lively. Great structure with fruit and acid in perfect harmony.

= An Affair to Remember

Aqua Pumpkin 2007 Pinot Noir
Santa Barbara County, $18.00

1404 cases produced

(89)
Female: Cherry and earth aromas, lifted on the palate. Elegant. Juicy fruit mid-palate. Smooth tannins.

Fish Eye 2009 Pinot Noir
South East Australia, $7.00

(89)
Female: Smoky cherry aromas open to a juicy palate of cherry and cola with tobacco notes on the finish. Bright and concentrated. Engaging.

Mahoney Vineyards 2007 All Estate Pinot Noir
Carneros, $20.00

3500 cases produced

(89)
Female: The nose is many layered, earthy with lovely mushroom notes enhance the black cherry aromas and then there are some roasted meat backnotes. The lush fruit in the mouth is unexpected but very welcome. Great acid. "Really nice!"

Segura Viudas Aria Sparkling Pinot Noir
Cava, Spain, $12.00

(89)
Female: The color in the glass is deep, almost like a light Pinot Noir. Dried cherry aromas repeat on the palate. A simple but nice wine. Great for sweeter wine lovers.

Bogle 2007 Pinot Noir
Russian River Valley, $13.00

30000 cases produced

(88)
Female: Easy to drink and enjoy. Sweet strawberry, vanilla and brown spices on the nose and on the palate. A pretty wine - a supple and elegant Pinot with moderate acidity.

Freixenet Elyssia Brut Sparkling
Cava, Spain, $18.00

(88)
Female: The nose is elusive at first but opens to cranberry notes with mushroom low notes. This is a pleasant, drier style with sweet fruit kicking in mid-palate then plenty of acidity on the finish. This would be delicious with grilled salmon. Great blend of 85% Pinot Noir and 15% Trepat.

Hahn Estates 2006 Pinot Noir
Monterey, $20.00

30447 cases produced

(88)
Female: This is a perfect wine to enjoy with grilled salmon. A lighter style of Pinot Noir with cranberry aromas replicating on the palate. Clove and coffee back notes on the finish.

Kenwood Vineyards 2007 Pinot Noir
Russian River Valley, $18.00

36715 cases produced

(88)
Female: A manly wine on the nose with cherry accented by animal and leather overtones. The aromas are replicated on the nicely weighted palate. There is a peppery aspect that adds depth and interest. "Like this wine!"

Ciccone 2007 Estate Bottled and Produced Suttons Bay, Michigan Pinot Noir
Leelanau Peninsula, $18.00

1500 cases produced

(87)
Female: Cola and earth notes on the nose. The palate displays light red fruit with interesting spice on the finish. Upon unveiling and discovering that this wine was from Michigan, we labeled this wine a "homerun."

Cono Sur 2008 Visión 68 Old Vine Vineyard Pinot Noir
Colchagua Valley, $15.00

30000 cases produced

(87)
Female: Like walking into a bakery, lovely yeasty aromas of bread baking joined by cherry, black cherry, and vanilla too. Nice acid on the finish. Lighter fruit on the palate than I expected but a lovely wine, nonetheless.

Willamette Valley Vineyards 2008 Whole Cluster Fermented Pinot Noir
Willamette Valley, $19.00

19270 cases produced

(87)
Female: Enticing floral perfume wafts from the glass - rose petals, violets and jasmine. Sweet strawberry flavors finishing with cola notes and a touch of acid.

MacMurray Ranch 2007 Pinot Noir
Central Coast, $20.00

92000 cases produced

(86)
Female: Smoky black cherry nose with foresty backnotes. Black fruit on entry. Toasty oak elements complement the fruit.

PINOT 2006 Pinot Noir
Central Coast, $17.99

500 cases produced

(86)
Female: Dark but not opaque in the glass. The nose is a bit odd - inviting caramel with underlying pine and evergreen aromas that are reminiscent of crunching on leaves. The mouthfeel is rich but the tannins step heavily on the fruit.

= Will Provide Fond Memories

Casa Larga Vineyards 2007 Pinot Noir
Finger Lakes, $12.99

1000 cases produced

(85)
Female: Light strawberry aromas and flavors. Orange pekoe tea accents mid-palate. Light tannins with balanced acidity.

Erath 2008 Pinot Noir
Oregon, $19.00

75000 cases produced

(85)
Female: Bright cherry aromas with smoky overtones. Light-bodied sweet cherry and strawberry fruit turning slightly sour mid to late palate.

Pinot Evil Pinot Noir
Hungary, $19.99

(85)
Female: A lighter style of Pinot Noir. Cranberry, strawberry jam and touch of lime of the nose. Light red fruit in the mouth - pomegranate with green tea notes. Cleansing acid.

Rodney Strong Vineyards 2008 Russian River Valley, Estate Pinot Noir
Russian River Valley, $20.00

65000 cases produced

(85)
Female: A youngster. All of the pieces are there but they haven't melded as yet. Time should show this as a very nice wine. Barnyard and light red fruit aromas. Strawberry turning to sour cherries on the palate with quite a bit of espresso masking the fruit mid through late.