- Last updated on January 21, 2023
Our Best Pinot Noir Selection
- Best Overall: Sea Smoke Southing Pinot Noir
- Best Value: Belle Glos Dairyman Vineyard Pinot Noir
- Best Budget: Meiomi Pinot Noir
- Best California (Napa): Best California (Napa): Cuvaison Estate Grown Pinot Noir 2018
- Best California (Sonoma): Kosta Browne Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
- Best Oregon: Domaine Serene Evenstad Reserve Pinot Noir
- Best France: Bouchard Père & Fils Vigne de l'Enfant Jésus Beaune 1er Cru 'Les Grèves' 2013
- Best Italy: Cantine di Ora Amicone
- Best Germany: Villa Wolf Pinot Noir 2019
- Best Australia: Moorooduc Pinot Noir 2017
- Best New Zealand: Amisfield Pinot Noir 2017
- Best South Africa: Hamilton Russell Vineyards Pinot Noir 2019
- Best Argentina: Domaine Nico Grand Père Pinot Noir 2018
- Best Chile: Ventisquero Grey (Glacier) Las Terrazas Vineyard Pinot Noir 2017
- Best Blanc de Noirs: Ulysse Collin Les Maillons Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut Champagne N.V.
- Best under $15: Mirassou Pinot Noir
- Best under $20: Hahn Pinot Noir
- Best under $30: Balletto Vineyards Pinot Noir
- Best under $50: Radio-Coteau La Neblina Pinot Noir 2018
- Best under $100: L'Usine Pinot Noir 2017
- Best Luxury: Domaine de La Romanée-Conti Richebourg Grand Cru
21 Best Pinot Noir Reviewed
Find below the reviews for our wine selection of the 21 Best Pinot Noir so that you have all the info you need to pick what’s best for you.
Vivino’s tips: Ranks #1 in Top 25 Californian Pinot Noir wines in New York right now (2019 Vintage).
Region: United States, California.
Tasting notes: Black Cherry, Plum, Strawberry, Violet, Chocolat, Espresso.
And the winner is… Sea Smoke Southing Pinot Noir.
There are a few things that make this wine stands out compared to the competition
- Arguably the finest for Pinot Noir in the state according to numerous wine critics. It currently ranks #1 Top 25 Californian Pinot Noir wines in Vivino right now, and for a good reason!
- It’s a superb Cali Pinot Noir thanks to its elegance, extreme balance, complexity, and structure for a wine in purity, i.e. it will blow you away.
- You can drink it now or let it age for at least one decade if stored properly so that you can let it achieve its maximum potential.
- Priced competitively against its peers, so you’ll save a few $100s and still get an outstanding wine.
Sea Smoke Southing Pinot Noir is hand-harvested, which means that there’s extreme care in how those precious grapes are handled which shows in the wine.
It’s made in purity, the grapes are pressed at low pressure to avoid the bitterness from the seeds. It ages 16 months in French oak of which 28% are new barrels.
Here is what you’ll get from it:
On the nose, black fruit like black cherry, plum, strawberry, violet, chocolate, vanilla, and espresso aromas.
On the palate, it’s a velvety, elegant, extremely balanced, full-body wine with many layers of complexity. It starts with black cherry, plum, and strawberries and it develops into nutmeg, clove, chocolate, espresso, banking spice, and an oak finish.
Pairing wise is a very versatile wine that allows you to pair it with many dishes, although we find it gives its best with earthy flavor dishes and red meat in particular.
For this reason, we recommend tagliolini with white truffle, game, turkey, duck, and roasted salmon.
To summarise, if you want the best Pinot Noir and are ok with a $110 price tag, get this, otherwise, keep reading.
Region: United States, Russian River Valley.
Tasting notes: Cherry, Red Fruit, Plum, Vanilla, Oak, Smoke, Earthy.
The runner-up is Belle Glos Dairyman Pinot Noir. It won’t have the same elegance as you’ll find in Sea Smoke Southing Pinot Noir but apart from that, it’s a great bottle of wine for less than half the price.
The three things that make this wine the best value wine are
- It’s complex, with silky tannins and a long finish, which means that you both get complexity and richness in flavors and aromas.
- It’s a versatile wine, so you can pair it with numerous dishes
- It offers great value for your money, $60+ cheaper than Sea Smoke Southing Pinot Noir 2019
Here is what you’ll get from it:
On the nose, aromas of black cherry and ripe plums combine with subtle notes of dried herbs and smoke.
On the palate, it’s a balanced, complex, and velvety Pinot Noir with flavors of cranberry, fresh raspberry, and ripe cherry, complemented by hints of vanilla and baking spice.
Try it with agnolotti mushroom, roasted vegetables, roasted chicken, duck, turkey, or Comte cheese for example, and it’ll be a delight!
To summarise, Belle Glos Dairyman Pinot Noir is a great bottle for a very good price. It won’t reach the level of elegance that Sea Smoke Southing Pinot Noir has but it’s still delicious and you’ll save roughly $60 that you can spend on more wines. 😉
Hurry up and stack up a few of these in your cellar before it runs out of stock!
Vivino’s tips: Featured in Best wines under $20 right now
Region: United States, California
Tasting notes: Cherry, Strawberry, Plum, Blackberry, Oak, Vanilla, Chocolate.
Have you found yourself in that situation where you just wanted to have a nice glass of wine with no fuss and that tastes delicious?
You know, just for the pleasure of drinking it on its own or having it with that tasty BBQ ribs, grilled lamb, or cheese of yours. Well, Seven Falls Merlot is exactly it and it’s super affordable too.
The three things that make this wine the best budget are:
- It’s silky and complex, which means it’ll be easy to drink with various layers of flavors and aromas.
- It’s the perfect everyday red that delivers every time.
- It cost ~$19 (😲) yes, it’s unbelievable for the quality you get.
Here is what you’ll get from it:
On the nose, it has luxurious and dynamic aromas of ripe strawberry, bright cherry, and faint notes of spicy oak and vanilla.
On the palate, it’s complex, velvety, and smooth with flavors of red currant notes and baking spice, light smoke, earth, and leather.
Try it with mushroom pizza, ratatouille, caramelized cauliflower, pork, turkey, beef bourguignon, and taleggio cheese and it’ll be a delight.
To summarise, Meiomi Pinot Noir is the perfect everyday red, yummy, and silky that delivers every time and is incredibly affordable.
If you though are after more refined bottles and overall experience Belle Glos Dairyman Pinot Noir or Sea Smoke Southing Pinot Noir are better choices.
Find our full review here.
Vivino’s tips: Good value for money. Similar wines usually cost 41% more.
Region: United States, Los Carneros
Tasting notes: Cherry, Raspberry, Strawberry, Allspice, Persimmon and Violet.
This Pinot Noir offers a good value for money as you’ll usually find similar wines for 40% more
It is brimming with bright strawberry, raspberry and fresh cherry flavors made more intriguing with a subtle hint of allspice, persimmon and violet.
Vivino’s tips: Featured in Vivino’s 2020 Wine Style Awards: Californian Pinot Noir (2014 Vintage) | 90 by Jeff Leve (2010 Vintage).
Region: United Sonoma Coast.
Tasting notes: Cherry, Raspberry, Black Cherry, Oak, Vanilla, Cola, Earthy, Pepper.
The Sonoma Coast supplies our fruit with a gorgeous rolling fog that grants our blend a generous acidity and delicate tannins.
Through the luxurious texture, you find notes of bright raspberry, summer strawberry, and gentle oak spices.
This wine is simply amazing and in case you wonder we are not the only one to share this view.
It ranks 4.6/5 stars from over 6.6k+ Vivino’s users. One of them is pretty enthusiast too, 93Wines says: “Wow! Just wow!”
Vivino’s tips: 2017 vintage rates better than any other year for this wine.
Region: United States, Willamette Valley
Tasting notes: Cherry, Raspberry, Plum, Vanilla, Oak, Earthy, Leather.
Red fruits, caramel, baking spice, vanilla, dried flowers, and potpourri.
On the palate, this wine shows a harmonious balance of structure, richness and acidity with soft tannins and a clean, lingering finish.
Vivino’s tips: Featured in Vivino’s 2019 Wine Style Awards: Burgundy Côte de Beaune Red (2013 Vintage)
Region: France, Côte de Beaune
Tasting notes: Cherry, Raspberry, Mushroom, Leather, Earthy, Vanilla, Oak, Vanilla, Licorice, Pepper, Violet.
If you love the French style, you must try it. It will blow you away! If you collect wine, keep an eye on it, I’d secure few bottles if I were you.
It’s pretty popular in the Vivino’s community with an outstanding 4.4 stars.
This wine is smooth, complex and elegant, with medium body and high acidity. Expect cherry, raspberry, earth, leather, mushroom, spice and oak toast.
If you go for later vintages make sure you gave it a few years to properly evolve before open it.
Region: Italy, Veneto
Tasting notes: Black Cherry, Raspberry, Spices, Chocolate.
Ruby red colour with delicate and vinous bouquet characterized by intense raspberry and black cherry aroma.
In the mouth, it is full-bodied, soft and velvety, with hints of spices and chocolate thanks to the slow aging in Tonneaux.
Vivino’s tips: Good value for money. Similar wines usually cost 61% more.
Region: Germany, Pfalz.
Tasting notes: Cherry, Strawberry, Raspberry, Smoke, Earthy, Oak, Vanilla.
Villa Wolf Pinot Noir is warm and medium-bodied, with a firm acid structure. Its dark cherry fruit is juicy, ripe and forward, with a spicy mid-palate.
Twelve months of barrique aging gives the wine a smoky depth and a nice touch of earthy tannins.
This is a very grown-up Pinot Noir for the price, and an excellent wine for everyday dining.
Vivino’s tips: Good value for money. Similar wines usually cost 52% more.
Region: Australia, Mornington Peninsula
Tasting notes: Cherry, Strawberry, Vanilla, Oak, Earthy, Pepper.
This delicious wine is smooth, with medium body and high acidity. It’s very fruity on the nose with earthy, licorice and pepper notes.
If you like the Australian style you can’t go wrong here. Be quick before it finishes…
Vivino’s tips: Featured in Vivino’s 2020 Wine Style Awards: New Zealand Pinot Noir (2017 Vintage).
Region:New Zealand, Central Otago
Tasting notes: Cherry, Raspberry, Plum, Oak, Vanilla, Chocolate, Leather, Earthy, Smoke.
Region: South Africa, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley
Tasting notes: Cherry, Strawberry, Raspberry, Black Fruit, Green Pepper, Earthy, Smoke, Oak, Vanilla.
This is a great South African Pinot Noir style bottle. It has complexity and smoothness. It pairs extremely well with red meats like beef, veal, game and chicken.
If you are not yet familiar with the South African style, that’s a great bottle to start with.
Vivino’s tips: Great value for money. Similar wines usually cost 2 times as much.
Region: Argentina, Mendoza
Tasting notes: Strawberry, Cherry, Dark Fruit, Mushroom, Oak.
This Argentinian Pinot Noir offers a fantastic value for your money. Medium body, fine tannins and medium-high acidity. Pair it with red meat and you’ll not be disappointed.
That’s another great wine to try out if you fancy exploring other Pinot Noir styles at an affordable price.
Vivino’s tips: 2017 vintage rates better than any other year for this wine
Region: Chile, Leyda Valley
Tasting notes: Strawberry, Cherry, Raspberry, Black Fruit, Oak, Smoke.
This wine is deep ruby-red in color with violet hues. The nose initially reveals black and red berries such as murtillas, blueberries, black cherries and raspberries.
The mouth provides juicy black fruit flavors and balanced acidity, together with soft, well-rounded tannins over soft French oak.
Vivino’s tips: Among top 1% of all wines in the world
Region: France, Champagne
Tasting notes: Apple, Apricot, Red Fruit, Brioche, Toast, Mineral.
Pinot Noir is very versatile grape and it can be used to produce outstanding Champagne, like this Blanc de Noirs made entirely with Pinot Noir grapes.
Expect high acidity, fine and persistent bubbles and more fruity notes than the usual Champagne. In our opinion it is one of the best Blanc de Noirs you can buy at a very reasonable price.
If I were you, I’d find a good excuse to celebrate with this one! 😋
Region: United States, California
Tasting notes: Dark Cherry, Raspberry, Strawberry Jam, Pomegranate
Mirassou Pinot Noir is the perfect everyday wine that for just under $10 will conquer you with its red and black cherry notes.
It opens with notes of ripe red and black cherry, its lush layers of fresh raspberry, strawberry jam, and pomegranate.
It’s balanced with hints of oak and vanilla.
Find our full review here.
Region: United States, California
Tasting notes: Dark Cherry, Ripe strawberry, Cola, Spice
California is known for its Pinot Noir. For around $10-15 you’ll get a good bottle of wine.
Dark cherry, ripe strawberry, cola, and a spicy finish will complement many dishes from veggie, pasta, a vast variety of red meats, and our beloved cheeses.
Try it with mushroom pizza, roasted chicken, or cheddar cheese and it’ll be a delight. At least it was for me!
Find our full review here.
Region: United States, Russian River
Tasting notes: Cherry, Strawberry, Oak, Tobacco, Vanilla, Earthy.
Balletto Pinot Noir is a very nice Cali Pinot Noir made in purity that for the price-quality ratio is a real bargain.
On the nose, cherry, strawberry, oak, spice and earthiness.
On the palate, it’s a fresh light body wine with flavors of red fruits like cherry and strawberry that develops into vanilla, cedar and oaky notes.
Vivino’s tips: Editor’s note: “A World-Class 4.5-★ Sonoma Coast Pinot With a Burgundian Soul, From the Estate Making “The Most Exciting Pinot Noir in California””
Region: United States, Sonoma Coast
Tasting notes: Blackberry, Plum, Cherry, Oak, Tobacco, Chocolate, Leather, Licorice, Violet.
This is one of the best bottles you can find under $50. Don’t just take my word for it. Here’s the Vivino Editor’s note: “A World-Class 4.5-★ Sonoma Coast Pinot With a Burgundian Soul, From the Estate Making “The Most Exciting Pinot Noir in California””.
It displays an alluring red velvet hue encompassing a dark rose center with radiant clarity. The first impression shows pure nose filled with ripe strawberries.
After a few swirls, the wine becomes more complex, letting out flowers, additional fruit and nuttiness. Tempered yet persistent tannins carry pink rose petal and vibrant acidity through the lengthy finish.
Vivino’s tips: Good value for money. Similar wines usually cost 36% more.
Region: United States, Sta. Rita Hills
Tasting notes: Blackberry, Blueberry, Cherry, Oak, Tobacco, Chocolate, Leather, Pepper, Earthy.
For once I let the others do the talking 😊. Here’s what Vivino’s Editor says: “20 Cases of This New Pinot from the Creator of Orin Swift Up for Grabs. Limited Production Vintage of a Red that “Expresses all of the Natural Richness that Comes So Easily in the Sta. Rita Hills.””
And here is what Robert Parker thinks about it: “When you take wine brands like Orin Swift and The Prisoner to the top of the ladder of success, you don’t do things at half-effort. And David Phinney has absolutely gone all-in on this 2017 Pinot Noir from Sta. Rita Hills.
Sourced from prime vineyard sites like John Sebastiano Vineyard, Radian Vineyard, and the legendary Sea Smoke Vineyard, this red “sashays out of the glass,” (Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, 93/100) .
Are you convinced by now 😎?
Region: France, Côte de Nuits
Tasting notes: Strawberry, Black Fruit, Leather, Earthy, Mushroom, Truffles.
This immediate neighbor of la Romanée-Conti escorts Her Majesty with good-natured ribaldry.
It is a king’s musketeer who likes company, likes to laugh and to sing, to feel that the somewhat brutal strength of his athlete’s body is admired.
For elegance, structure and complexity this wine is just a masterpiece. There’s plenty of great and outstanding wines out there at a fraction of this price.
Having said that, if you have the opportunity to drink a Richebourg Grand Cru, you’ll soon realize it’s one of a kind experience.
Buying Guide to Pinot Noir
It’s not just about which Pinot Noir you should buy. There are other important aspects like how to serve it, food pairings, and much more.
The below buying guide will give you a detailed overview of all these topics.
Pinot Noir Overview
Here you find an overview of where Pinot Noir is most commonly planted.
Grape
Pinot Noir
ABV
11.5%–15%
Main Regions
France: Burgundy
Other Regions
Australia
Chile
Italy: Northern Italy
Germany
South Africa
New Zealand
USA: California, Oregon
Grape
Pinot Noir
ABV
11.5%–15%
Main Regions
France: Burgundy
Other Regions
Australia
Chile
Italy: Northern Italy
Germany
South Africa
New Zealand
USA: California, Oregon
Pinot Noir Taste Profile
These are some of the most common aromas and flavors of Pinot Noir.
Color
Pale to Medium Garnet
Nose
Earthy, Herbal Notes
Red berry, Raspberry, Strawberry, Cherry
Spice
Leather
Palate
Red Fruit
Vanilla, Truffle,
Tobacco
Dry to Off-Dry
Medium-High Acidity
Medium-Low Tannins
Medium-Full Body
Color
Pale to Medium Garnet
Nose
Earthy, Herbal Notes
Red berry, Raspberry, Strawberry, Cherry
Spice
Leather
Palate
Red Fruit
Vanilla, Truffle,
Tobacco
Dry to Off-Dry
Medium-High Acidity
Medium-Low Tannins
Medium-Full Body
Pinot Noir Food Pairing
These are some food pairing suggestions for Pinot Noir.
Appetizer
Mushrooms Agnolotti,
Caramelized Cauliflower,
Casserole of Red Cabbage & Apples
Meat
Duck
Roasted Chicken
Pork
Rabbit
Beef Bourguignon
Fish
Grilled Salmon
Grilled Swordfish
Cheese
Wash-Rind (Taleggio),
Medium-Firm (Comte),
Semi-Hard (Ceddar),
Hard (Pecorino)
Appetizer
Mushrooms Agnolotti,
Caramelized Cauliflower,
Casserole of Red Cabbage & Apples
Meat
Duck
Roasted Chicken
Pork
Rabbit
Beef Bourguignon
Fish
Grilled Salmon
Grilled Swordfish
Cheese
Wash-Rind (Taleggio),
Medium-Firm (Comte),
Semi-Hard (Ceddar),
Hard (Pecorino)
Serve and Store Pinot Noir
Here you find some useful tips on how to serve and store Pinot Noir.
Decant
30 mins
Glass
Burgundy
Serve at
55 - 64 °F
13 - 18 °C
Store for
Up to 5 years
10+ years finest bottles only
Decant
30 mins
Glass
Burgundy
Serve at
55 - 64 °F
13 - 18 °C
Store for
Up to 5 years
10+ years finest bottles only
Pinot Noir Styles
Pinot Noir taste profile will vary from region to region and the climate. Some examples are:
- France – Burgundy (cool): red fruit and subtle oak aromas, mushroom and forest floor.
- US:
- California (warm): ripe red fruit and intense vanilla flavors. The finest examples develop mushroom and forest floor flavors.
- Oregon (cool): the best wines are similar to the French types with more intense red fruit flavors.
- California (warm): ripe red fruit and intense vanilla flavors. The finest examples develop mushroom and forest floor flavors.
- Australia – Yarra Valley and Mornington Peninsula (cool): can vary from light to medium with ripe red fruit flavors. They are generally higher in tannins.
- Italy – Northern part (cool): like the French style with tertiary flavors of tobacco.
- New Zealand (cool): rich in red fruit flavors up to dark plum, medium to full body, medium-low tannins with chocolate and spicy notes.
Our Verdict
Pinot Noir is the perfect entry-level red wine. The red fruit is the primary flavor and their intensity and types vary depending on the producer and the region.
What to do Next?
Be sure to serve your Pinot Noir at the right temperature. Read our wine tasting guide to enhance your tasting experience and taste like the pro!
Alternatively, why don’t you check out our guides on Pinot Noir vs Merlot, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, the other red wines or Champagne?
FAQ
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about Cabernet Sauvignon.
What does Pinot Noir mean?
“Pinot” is a French word that derives from “pin”, i.e. pine tree, given the resemblance between the bunch of grapes and the pine cone.
“Noir” is a French word that means “blank” in English and comes from the dark skin of the grape.
What is Pinot Noir history?
Pinot Noir is a very ancient grape, possibly from the 1st century AD, from the Burgundy region in France. Today the most expensive and finest bottles of Pinot Noir are from this area.
Where does Pinot Noir grow best?
Pinot Noir gives its best in a cool to moderate climate. The grape has thin skin and it’s quite delicate.
When grown in a warm climate it can lose its freshness and taste too cooked from excessive ripening of the grapes. Despite that, it’s cultivated around the world.
When is the perfect time to drink Pinot Noir?
Pinot Noir it’s generally a common choice for the holiday season, given its food pairing options like duck, turkey, and roasted chicken.
In reality, you can have Pinot Noir all year long. The light body version makes it enjoyable even during summer.
Is Pinot Noir sweet?
Pinot Noir is not sweet. You can generally find it dry or off dry. A dry wine contains less than 15 g/L, or sugar per liter.
An off dry wine contains between 15-30 g/l.
Learn more about wine sweetness level here.
When is the International Pinot Noir day?
The 18th of August is the International Pinot Noir Day.
Why is Pinot Noir usually expensive?
Pinot Noir is a delicate grape and as such it’s prone to rot and diseases which will affect the production.
This has a direct impact on its price and that’s why Pinot Noir is rarely inexpensive.
In which barrels Pinot Noir usually ages?
Pinot Noir has delicate flavors and to preserve them, oak maturations generally happen in large and/or older barrels.
This reduces the surface of contact and avoids overwhelming flavors.
Is Pinot Noir a versatile grape?
Yes it is. Pinot Noir grape is used to produce white, red, rosé, and sparkling wine! Blanc de Noirs Champagne it’s a blend of Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier [1].
What’s Pinot Noir's typical price range?
Pinot Noir it’s rarely an inexpensive wine. The most expensive bottles are from France and most precisely from the Côte-d’Or [2]. Price can easily be over $3000 a bottle.
For other regions, the average price will be around $20-$100. You can find some outstanding Pinot Noir examples from Oregon, South Africa, and New Zealand.
