DeLoach Pinot Noir

So many people have asked me for a budget Pinot Noir recommendation. I’ve tried a few Chilean Pinots, and they’ve been, well, “meh”. Since they don’t exactly taste like Pinot Noir to me, I think they’re a decent value. I’ll be honest and say I’m a California & Oregon Pinot Noir fan. That’s my own palate preference with this wine varietal. [That is, until my good friends at Familia Meschini come out with their Pinot.]

I’ve visited the DeLoach vineyard, located in the Russian River Valley of Sonoma, California. Typical of the Russian River Valley, this winery creates some primo Pinot Noirs, and with a price tag to match. So, when I saw a DeLoach Pinot Noir on sale for $11.99, I thought I’d give it a go. Now, a $12 price for Pinot is a bit like seeing a new Mercedes for $4000. However, with the DeLoach name on the bottle, I figured it wouldn’t be entirely useless swill.

I was right.

Now, this isn’t a $40+ bottle of Pinot Noir. It just isn’t as refined as others. In fact, you could say it’s a little rough around the edges. But that’s OK, because sometimes we like it a little rough.

Until then, I think this DeLoach Pinot at $12 and change is a great value. The grittier, rougher Pinots may just excite you in a way you never thought it could. It may not rock your world, but it also won’t rock your wallet like one quadruple its price.