Six Surprising Pinots
Only one of these staff picks comes from Burgundy (and it’s a blend). Great Pinot Noirs are being made across France, and further abroad in Italy, Argentina, and Chile.
Viña Quintay “Clava” Pinot Noir $12.96
The rare inexpensive Pinot that delivers in taste—and that’s really saying something. The southernly Casablanca Valley is perfectly suited for this finicky grape. Warm days and cool nights give Pinot Noir the bright fruit and crisp acidity that delivers the finesse and balance of a great Pinot. Here the berried cherried fruit is bright and fresh; a bramble earthiness is underlying a structure that complements the fruit perfectly. I drink this with a slight chill, and it pairs nicely with goat cheese. – Josh Mizrahi, Sales Manager
Bourgogne Passetoutgrain, Hoffmann-Jayer $24.96
If it’s Burgundy it has to be Pinot, right? There’s an exception to every wine rule and in the case of Passetoutgrain this is a Gamay/Pinot blend. Old vines produce concentrated fruit and stainless steel vinification provides a fresh and juicy quaff. Sometimes wine rules need to be broken! – Bambi Ray, Sales Manager
Eric Thill Pinot Noir $29.96
If you like a bit of elegance in your red wines, you should explore Jura with its higher elevations and a chillier climate. Eric Thill farms organically and uses natural vinification methods. This bottle is fresh yet substantial. It shows a subdued amount of red berries and plum, gentle fuzzy tannins, and nice minerality. Be sure to grab a wedge of aged Comté cheese when you open a bottle. – Chung Park, Astor Wines & Spirits Consultant
Pinot Nero “Valle Isarco,” Garlider $30.99
A crisp, cool-climate expression of Pinot Noir from the mountainous valleys of South Tyrol. The nose is an intensely alpine bouquet of berries, roots, and herbs. It’s medium-bodied, juicy, and velvety. This is the only red Garlider makes, and it’s all the more special for it. – Teddy Daly, Astor Wines & Spirits Consultant
Sancerre Rouge “Croix du Roy”, Lucien Crochet $31.96
Sancerre has become synonymous with Sauvignon Blanc, but the region’s Pinot Noir should not be overlooked. Dom. Lucien Crochet is a favorite for Sauvignon Blanc, and this Pinot shows equal verve. This shows bright, fresh red fruit, cherry, cranberry, and a bit of earthiness. It falls somewhere between light and medium in body.This is a great food wine that would pair nicely with salmon or pork. – Amy Miller, Sales Manager
Bodega Chacra “Sin Azufre” Pinot Noir $33.96
Argentina is not where most people look for Pinot Noir, let alone biodynamic, unusually light, completely unsulfured bottlings, but any fan of the grape should know this label from Bodega Chacra. Clean and pure, there is no funk here whatsoever, just beautiful, bright red fruit surrounding aromas of tea leaf, cola, and damp earth. It’s a wine that has vitality and expressiveness in the way only the best natural wines can. – Jon Miner, Astor Wines & Spirits Consultant