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DaleW DaleW is offline
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Default Best Pinot Noir within $40?

A lot depends on palate of your group. If big fruit is paramount, then
maybe CA. If not, maybe Burgundy. Oregon is kind of in between.

Burgundy
If you decide to go with Beaune, the Jadot's 1ers are usually good
values. The Ursules probably top $40 (as does Drouhin's baby Jesus and
Lafarge's Greves) , but the Boucherottes, Couacheaux, etc are $30 or
so. Usually more forward.
Outside Beaune, Pavelot's Savigny 1ers are another set that drink well
young.
You might try Bourgogne rouge from deVillaine, Lafarge, Roumier,
Barthod. Santenay from Denis Clair, Joblot's Givry.

It's tough to recommend not knowing availability in your market. You
might look at a good wine store for Burgundy recommendations from 2000.
Uneven vintage, but some very good early drinking wines. 2003 drinks
early too, but quality is even more uneven.

Oregon
Others probably have more knowledge here, but I like the wines of DDO,
Belle Pente & St Innocent. I also liked J. Christopher recently. My
impression is that 2003 is a more forward vintage, but little to base
that on.

California
I like Copain, Saintsbury, Arcadian, Littorai. But latter two are
probably now mostly over $40. The 05 Copain Autumn bottling is fine for
$20, if you don't split with someone. Walter Hansel makes some nice
early drinkers. Kosta Brown USED to be under $40, but scores have sent
it to stratosphere. Some Siduris and Lorings are under $40, in the big
fruit style.

Hard to be more specific without knowing what you can buy.



Professor wrote:
> Our wine group meets this Saturday. This month's theme is Pinot Noir. We
> get around the $20 or less rule by having two people share the expense of a
> bottle costing twice the price. What $40 Pinot Noir would most impress our
> group? I was thinking of picking up something from Beaune, but wanted more
> input. Any ideas? Thanks!