Moderately priced French Pinot Noir suggestions

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Moderately priced French Pinot Noir suggestions - 6/29/2008 7:48:41 AM

Blue Shorts

Posts: 318
Joined: 2/5/2008
From: Santa Cruz, California
Status: online

I've been searching, to no avail, for a moderately priced French pinot noir that I will enjoy.

I have found a few California pinots in the $20 - $40 US range that are quite good, but I can't seem to find a decent french pinot here in california that is priced anywhere under $50 - $60.

Should I just assume that I have to pay more to get any quality from the french pinot?

Can anyone here recommend a nice french pinot that won't break the bank?

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RE: Moderately priced French Pinot Noir suggestions - 6/29/2008 7:56:50 AM

Serge Birbrair

Posts: 1560
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From: Boca Raton, Florida
Status: online

Here are few under $30 you'll find easy in Santa Cruz :

http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=422264

http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=427605

Put your hands on as many 2005 Bourgognes as you can and chances are you won't be disapointed,
IF you like this sort of things. If CA Pinot is your measuring yard stick, Burgundy might be very disapointing for at least another 20-25 years :)

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Post #: 2

RE: Moderately priced French Pinot Noir suggestions - 6/29/2008 8:06:47 AM

J2K

Posts: 427
Joined: 5/5/2008
From: Pittsburgh, PA- U.S.A.
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I would suggest the 2005 Bourgognes also. They are great and shouldn't break the bank.
Usually around mid $ 20.

(in reply to Serge Birbrair)

Post #: 3

RE: Moderately priced French Pinot Noir suggestions - 6/29/2008 8:29:31 AM

Paul S

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Joined: 1/15/2008
From: Singapore
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Unfortunately, even as a Burg fan, I think the maxim for Burgundy often is "you pay for what you get". There are few exceptions, like 2005 Bourgognes, but by and large, if you are not too familiar with Burg or have no one to guide you along, then you will probably have to pay for the experience. Saying that, there is good value to be found out there, but it is often like searching for a needle in a haystack. That's probably why Burg afficinados get so excited when they find quality for a lower price - it's rare. What I can guarantee is that an expensive Burg from a reliable producer will almost always outshine an expensive new world pinot or chard from a reliable producer.

I know this may be a little controversial, so I'll thow my comments open to the floor - you guys agree?

And just to prove that there can be good value, I would heartily recommend a couple of wines that probably fall into your price range and that I think are better than most new world stuff you would find at the same price point:

http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=200985
http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=495577
http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=110992
http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=347854

The last one, Fourrier's Gevrey Chambertin VV is particularly outstanding.

(in reply to J2K)

Post #: 4

RE: Moderately priced French Pinot Noir suggestions - 6/29/2008 8:33:43 AM

Serge Birbrair

Posts: 1560
Joined: 4/23/2006
From: Boca Raton, Florida
Status: online

Paul, I persoanlly know only one out of four,
Magnien
and what a fine choice, indeed. I had a few of his wines (2005) and they were under $25.
I don't think they be still available though, at our store they were selling like hot cakes.

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Post #: 5

RE: Moderately priced French Pinot Noir suggestions - 6/29/2008 8:46:40 AM

Paul S

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From: Singapore
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Haha - kinda proves my point about good value being hard to find isn't it? Burgundy is like a jigsaw puzzle, we each have a few pieces of the picture. Sometimes we overlap - but more often than not we don't. Hopefully the current wellspring of Burg interest in the forum will throw up some good wines that we can actually find locally!

That particular Magnien bottling was my staple for awhile. Got a few bottles for early everyday drinking, all gone in a matter of weeks. I think my Burg merchant has one or two more bottles left. I have just moved on to the M&M Volnay 2005 which is quite excellent for its price. I am saddened that the last wine, the Fourrier, arrived in very limited qualities in Singapore and has been all snapped up though. It is probably the most interesting of the lot. Fourrier is very up and coming, and very impressive indeed. I have not been so excited about a producer in some time.

(in reply to Serge Birbrair)

Post #: 6

RE: Moderately priced French Pinot Noir suggestions - 6/29/2008 8:49:50 AM

Serge Birbrair

Posts: 1560
Joined: 4/23/2006
From: Boca Raton, Florida
Status: online

Paul, very true, indeed.

BTW, I visited Singapore and found it to be more European than Asian city. Next time you go to Chinese stalls on the second floor,
have large bottle of beer for me with well braised Peking Duck from the vendors.

Magnien, do you like father or son more?

_____________________________

Do you really think you understand terroir!? -

(in reply to Paul S)

Post #: 7

RE: Moderately priced French Pinot Noir suggestions - 6/29/2008 5:32:59 PM

Paul S

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From: Singapore
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I certainly will! Call me up when you next visit.

Actually, I found out to my surprise that both Michel and Frederic's bottlings are wines made by Frederic. Strange given how different the styles are. Thing is that M. Magnien's bottling is from their own vines, with the father still consulting, whereas F. Magnien is a negociant bottling with Frederic having a free rein. I much prefer the father - although I hear the F. Magnien does very well in the States. I find the former to be more classical, while the later a bit too modern and oaky for my tastes.

(in reply to Serge Birbrair)

Post #: 8

RE: Moderately priced French Pinot Noir suggestions - 6/30/2008 7:27:24 AM

amm3rd

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http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=520167

Very good value, and age worthy...AMM

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AMM

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Post #: 9

RE: Moderately priced French Pinot Noir suggestions - 6/30/2008 9:01:06 AM

Blue Shorts

Posts: 318
Joined: 2/5/2008
From: Santa Cruz, California
Status: online

Thanks to all for the recommendations.

Unfortunately, most (all except 2 bottles, literally) are not available here or in the case of Paul's suggestions are in the $50 - $70 range here in California. It seems that most of the availability and good prices are on the East Coast of the US. NY and NJ seem to have the best availabilityand prices on French wine... and it's understandable given the proximity to France.

I'll keep looking.

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The best wine is the one that you haven't yet tried.

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Post #: 10

RE: Moderately priced French Pinot Noir suggestions - 6/30/2008 9:05:12 AM

Paul S

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That's frankly disgusting. I pay the same price in Singapore - in Singapore dollars AND after $8 tax per bottle. S$1 = approx US$1.38 at the moment FYI.

AND Singapore is supposed to be one of the more expensive places in the world to buy your wines. I have been getting people to bring back bottles of pre-2005 French wines back from the East Coast when they visit the US!

(in reply to Blue Shorts)

Post #: 11

RE: Moderately priced French Pinot Noir suggestions - 6/30/2008 9:20:03 AM

rjonas

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From: Newcastle, WA
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It's not French Pinot but if you'd consider a domestic Pinot from the same equatorial line as France, I would highly recommend Z'ivo Pinot Noir from the Willamette Valley in Oregon.

http://zivowines.com/index.html

I was introduced to this wine while visiting a friend down in McMinnville and it was love at first taste.. They're a relatively small winery and don't commercially sell wines on-line (you won't find them on WineZap, for instance) but they will ship direct to states where it is reciprocally legal (CA being one of them). John the winemaker is very responsive to email requests.

I have some of the '03 and '04 vintages and as a matter of fact, just had a bottle of the '04 last night.. Delightful!

(in reply to Blue Shorts)

Post #: 12

RE: Moderately priced French Pinot Noir suggestions - 6/30/2008 9:56:50 AM

cgrimes

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From: Massachusetts
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Here's a good, affordable, generic Burgundy from a good producer:
This wine was purchased for $16.75

http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=333411

(in reply to rjonas)

Post #: 13

RE: Moderately priced French Pinot Noir suggestions - 6/30/2008 10:06:27 AM

Blue Shorts

Posts: 318
Joined: 2/5/2008
From: Santa Cruz, California
Status: online

I just found 5 bottles of this for $40 each:

2004 Michel Magnien Morey St. Denis 1er Cru Les Chaffots

Does anyone here know of the quality of this wine?

Thanks.

_____________________________

The best wine is the one that you haven't yet tried.

(in reply to Blue Shorts)

Post #: 14

RE: Moderately priced French Pinot Noir suggestions - 6/30/2008 10:14:01 AM

cgrimes

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Blue Shorts

I just found 5 bottles of this for $40 each:

2004 Michel Magnien Morey St. Denis 1er Cru Les Chaffots

Does anyone here know of the quality of this wine?

Thanks.

Checked Burghound: Meadows gave it an 87-90 and said it was a good early drinker.
Craig

(in reply to Blue Shorts)

Post #: 15

RE: Moderately priced French Pinot Noir suggestions - 6/30/2008 11:37:43 AM

Blue Shorts

Posts: 318
Joined: 2/5/2008
From: Santa Cruz, California
Status: online

Thanks. I order all 5 bottles.

I also took a chance and ordered 6 bottles of:
2005 Domaine Robert Arnoux Bourgogne Pinot Fin for $18.99 each.

I'll see how I like each style and decide if I should spned more for the "better" wines.

_____________________________

The best wine is the one that you haven't yet tried.

(in reply to cgrimes)

Post #: 16

RE: Moderately priced French Pinot Noir suggestions - 6/30/2008 12:31:22 PM

cgrimes

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From: Massachusetts
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Blue Shorts

Thanks. I order all 5 bottles.

I also took a chance and ordered 6 bottles of:
2005 Domaine Robert Arnoux Bourgogne Pinot Fin for $18.99 each.

These are the Arnoux I have (Pere & Fils)
http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=413727
I also have the '03s. Paid $40 for the '05, $32 for the '03

(in reply to Blue Shorts)

Post #: 17

RE: Moderately priced French Pinot Noir suggestions - 6/30/2008 9:36:04 PM

Paul S

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From: Singapore
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Bouchard Pere & Fils Beaune du Chateau 1er Cru 2005. http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=246193 Should not be too hard to find.

Can't go wrong with 2005! Note that this may need some time in the decanter if and when you buy it.

(in reply to cgrimes)

Post #: 18