Best value new world Pinot Noir
It’s the grape that stars in some of the world’s most expensive and rare red wines when grown in its home territory of Burgundy. But, good Pinot is increasingly emerging from around the world. We bring you the best value Pinot Noirs from outside Burgundy…
It’s too much to expect new world Pinot Noir to achieve in just a few decades what it has taken Burgundy centuries to do. However, there are some great quality Pinots available from regions such as Casablanca in Chile, Central Otago and Martinborough in New Zealand, the Western Cape of South Africa, and Oregon and Sonoma County in the USA.
Even better news is that some of these offer fantastic value for money. You may argue that we can’t compare these new world wines with the best from Burgundy, and that may be true, but equally Burgundy often cannot compete for quality in the lower tiers.
Below, we have rounded up some of the best value new world Pinot Noir, relative to the scores given by our experts.
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Felton Road, Calvert Pinot Noir, Central Otago, New Zealand, 2015
From vines grown a kilometre down the road from the winery, this is a Calvert classic: it's fragrant and refined, with real precision here. Expect...
2015
Felton Road
Two Paddocks, Pinot Noir, Central Otago, New Zealand, 2014
95
Complex, intense and complete – a bouquet with personality boasting layers of light red fruits laced with spice and minerals. Fabulous palate, textured, ripe, finely tuned tannins and a lengthy finish.
2014
Two Paddocks
Escarpment, Kiwa Pinot Noir, Martinborough, Wairarapa, New Zealand, 2016
A synthesis of white pepper and red cherry with a lovely, salty soy edge. On the palate this is full, fluid and a little edgy...
2016
EscarpmentMartinborough
Akitu, A1 Pinot Noir, Wanaka, Central Otago, New Zealand, 2016
Subtle cherry on the nose. The palate is a lovely expression of unforced balance, an interplay between aromatic, ripe fruit and bracing freshness with a...
2016
AkituWanaka
Ashton Hills Vineyard, Estate Pinot Noir, Sacramento Valley, Clarksburg, South Australia, Australia, 2016
94
Stephen George is one of Australia's most detail-driven winemakers, who also makes wines for cult winery Wendouree in the Clare Valley. His three hectare dry-farmed Ashton Hills 'garden' vineyard lies at a height of 570m in the Piccadilly Valley, and is home to Australia's oldest Pinot Noir vines, planted in 1982. Ashton Hills was bought by McLaren Vale's Wirra Wirra in 2015, but George still has a hand in both viticulture and winemaking. Not for nothing are his Pinots known as the 'Burgundies of the Adelaide Hills': this wine, from four clones, is basket pressed and wild-yeast fermented before spending time in 20% new oak barrels and neutral hogsheads. It has amazing purity of rich fruit, showing aromas and flavours of ripe cherry and strawberry, exotic spices and autumn leaves. It's savoury and silky with firm structure and bright acidity. Superb!
2016
Ashton Hills VineyardSacramento Valley
Marimar Estate, La Masía Don Miguel Vineyard Pinot Noir, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley, California, USA, 2014
An earthy nose showing leather, bacon, raspberry confit and herbs. The palate is ripe, full and rich, finely balanced with its grainy tannins and fresh...
2014
Marimar EstateSonoma County
Anthill Farms, Anderson Valley Pinot Noir, Mendocino County, California, USA, 2013
From the relative wilderness of the northerly Anderson Valley, this shows tart redcurrant and Morello cherry with a lovely marzipan edge on the nose. Concentrated,...
2013
Anthill FarmsMendocino County
Seresin Estate, Leah Pinot Noir, Marlborough, New Zealand, 2014
Slightly reduced on the nose but well-structured with marked acidity and grip on the finish. Pleasant florality with sawdust and raspberry compote notes.
2014
Seresin Estate
Montsecano, Refugio Pinot Noir, Casablanca Valley, Chile, 2014
93
Leaping aromatics! Alight with an amazing intensity of red fruits, fine herbs, wet earth and leather. Pea pod flavours with an overt and exceptional concentration of fruit. There's an utterly engaging wild abandon about this wine; rustic, this will give a lot of pleasure.
2014
Montsecano
Elgin Vintners, Pinot Noir, Elgin, South Africa, 2016
Elgin Vintners was formed by six growers in the Elgin Valley, who joined forces to make best use of their separate holdings. This Pinot Noir...
2016
Elgin Vintners
Montes, Outer Limits Pinot Noir, Zapallar, Aconcagua Valley, Chile, 2015
The grapes come from a single vineyard in the Aconcagua’s coastal Zapallar zone, just seven kilometres from the cooling Pacific. And you can taste that...
2015
MontesZapallar
Mac Forbes, Pinot Noir, Yarra Valley, Victoria, Australia, 2016
A wine that stops you in your tracks. Arresting, piercing aromas of warm earth, fresh plant growth and tangy red fruit. It’s spring in a...
2016
Mac Forbes
