Search for an inexpensive, everyday pinot noir

Like many of you, my wife and I have quite a few bottles of high-end pinot noir from Oregon, California, and Burgundy. However, we are on the search for an inexpensive, everyday pinot noir. Why? Because we consume quite a bit of both salmon and pork, and when it's just us, and/or the middle-of-the-week, we don't want to pull one of our high-end pinots. I anticipate that many CT users are similar, and perhaps our experience can help. I recently was in a liquor store with a good selection of pinot noir, and I chose three California pinot noir that sold for between $11 and $17 dollars, exactly where we hope to find an excellent, everyday drinker. For the record, a 3-day stay in Oregon's Wilamette Valley last fall, and tasting at 14 properties, showed us that we prefer bigger, heavier-bodied pinot noir.

We conducted this as a blind tasting in two flights. Each selection was brown-bagged, and my wife labeled them 1-3. We initially drank them pretty much immediately upon opening, on their own. After 30 minutes of being opened, we corked them, and then re-tasted two hours later with a dinner of spicy roasted pork top loin, roasted potatoes, and salad. We prepared separate notes for each 'flight', though our final posts are an amalgam of each.

#1 A clear light ruby in the glass, the nose is of sweet, candied cherries with a touch of earth. My wife notes 'cough syrup'. On the palate, sweet cherries, a touch of smoke, good acidity, and a short finish. 82 pts. 2006 Castle Rock California Cuvee Pinot Noir

#2 A slightly darker ruby in the glass, less sweet on the nose, noticeable citrus with cherry, ? licorice, smoke and a touch of oak. On the palate, the aforementioned citrus is again present, amidst cherry, fennel, smoke, and light grippy tannins. More body than #1, along with a smooth, silky finish. 85 pts. 2007 Mark West California Pinot Noir

#3 Medium ruby in the glass, this has the most prominent aromatics of the group, with cherry, baking spices, and vanilla. On the palate, typical pinot noir cherry, but noticeable spice, vanilla, oak and moderate tannins. Definitely qualitatively different than the first two, with excellent attack and a persistent, clean finish. 87/88 pts. 2006 Bogle Russian River Valley Pinot Noir

#1 Improved with food. More body, some silk, and a longer finish. Qualitatively moved closer to #2. 83/84 pts.

#2 About the same. Not noticeably changed over time and with food. 85 pts.

#3 Big-time with spicy pork roast. Big aromatics, full-bodied, spicy itself, a touch of menthol, and excellent acidity. Most definitely the class of this field. 88 pts.

• 2006 Castle Rock Pinot Noir California Cuvée 83 Points

  USA, California

  A clear light ruby in the glass, the nose is of sweet, candied cherries with a touch of earth. My wife notes 'cough syrup'. On the palate, sweet cherries, a touch of smoke, good acidity, and a short finish. Improved with food. More body, some silk, and a longer finish. Qualitatively moved closer to #2.

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• 2007 Mark West Pinot Noir California 85 Points

  USA, California

  A slightly darker ruby in the glass, less sweet on the nose, noticeable citrus with cherry, ? licorice, smoke and a touch of oak. On the palate, the aforementioned citrus is again present, amidst cherry, fennel, smoke, and light grippy tannins. More body than #1, along with a smooth, silky finish. About the same. Not noticeably changed over time and with food.

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• 2006 Bogle Vineyards Pinot Noir 88 Points

  USA, California

  Medium ruby in the glass, this has the most prominent aromatics of the group, with cherry, baking spices, and vanilla. On the palate, typical pinot noir cherry, but noticeable spice, vanilla, oak and moderate tannins. Definitely qualitatively different than the first two, with excellent attack and a persistent, clean finish.
  Big-time with spicy pork roast! Big aromatics, full-bodied, spicy itself, a touch of menthol, and excellent acidity. Most definitely the class of this field.

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This has been a fun, educational, and satisfying exercise. We have experience with blind tastings with a group of other couples and friends, but first time with just us. Still fun and insightful! The 2006 Bogle Russian River Valley Pinot Noir ran away with the prize. It was the most expensive, at $16 or so (with 10% discount). Excellent alone, and stood up well to a quite garlicky and spicy roast pork top loin. I see a case of this in our future for a very good/excellent, relatively inexpensive, everyday pinot noir!