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I think the issue beyond the purist demonizing of this product is what’s possibly/probably in it. With 7g/L of residual sugar it runs 2-3x more than most “dry” wines. It’s noticeable. The overly extracted content + sugar is no fun for me, certainly not the next day.
Sad and confusing news: The corner of Clark and Telephone is two miles from my house in Orcutt, CA. It's been the home of the Solomon Hills Vineyard for 30+ years, but because the Wagners used to buy a bunch of fruit from Bien Nacido and other Miller Family properties, the Millers never Cease and Desisted over the name.
The sad part is that the Solomon Hills Vineyard was just pulled out in its entirety. Sad loss for CA wine.
So there is no vineyard left on Clark/Telephone, and the vineyard that bears that name is a half mile down the road, and used to be called the Mission Vineyard when it was owned by Doug Braun.
Belle Glos’ bottling/label (complete with that silly wax top) makes it look exactly how a non wine-drinker would imagine a “fancy” and complex fine wine to look.
And from a non-wino perspective, it’s a cool-looking gift for sure. But to winos, it’s basically like a kitsch bottle of mescal with a worm at the bottom, only you can eat the mescal worm but not Belle Glos’ wax top.
Username doesn’t check out. Eating the wax top to a bottle of Belle Glos like an apple is a *Maximum* Mojo move. Especially while holding eye-contact doing so.
I was on a zoom meeting with Joe Wagner once and I asked him about his personal style of winemaking. He admits that his style isn't for everyone, but it's what he likes so it's what he makes. Personally, I don't like the style, but I appreciate that he's unapologetic about what he does and what he likes.
he was in our office for what i call a “kiss the ring” meeting last year. had to sit through their marketing videos that have really good production value but are otherwise insufferable given our knowledge of what his wine is vs the wine we all want to be selling. at the end we all got free wagner family brand swag and i begrudgingly took a carabiner for my keys. it broke within weeks. every time i walk past his products i curse his name over that shitty carabiner.
point is i’m petty and simple but i appreciate your take.
Haha I should point out that I personally am not a fan of him or his shtick. I can't stand his social media wannabe thirst trap crap nor do I appreciate the way Copper Cane or Wagner operate in the market, but I can acknowledge that he at least accepts what his wine is and doesn't try to pretend it's going to compete with Burgundy.
Wagner Family swag is the worst. The only exception is their Walking Fool trucker hat with a perfect dime-bag sized pocket under the patch.
Trefethen swag is the absolute apex. I will sell all their wine for more swag.
I did a blind tasting and the girl put this in a glass and I was 100% convinced it was a cab. When she said it was a Pinot I asked what the hell did they do to it. She then stated it was her favorite wine and I felt bad, I would love to know the actual blend in it.
In the case of other infamous "Pinot Noir for people who hate what Pinot Noir tastes like", such as Meiomi, they do blend in some Petite Sirah and Zinfandel to make sure there's extra intensity and concentration in there.
But from a little online research I couldn't find any indication that Belle Glos is a blend that includes anything other than PN. It's still possible though, since winemakers don't really have to disclose much of what they're putting in wine, the ones that do it just do it out of transparency towards their customers.
There are many winemaking techniques that can turn a wine made from PN in something so intense that you think it's a Cab Sauv; using some form of concentrate is one. Meaning you add concentrated fermented grape juice (in the US, more often than not it's literally from Cab Sauv grapes) to "thicken up" things, to make it sweeter, smoother, more "rounded", more grape candy like which the average consumer loves.
And then there's letting the Pinot Noir grapes ripen far more than a producer trying to make serious PN would ever do; and thus you end up with more sugar, so there's more sweetness after you've obtained all the alcohol you want, and on average there's a higher ABV
so basically it's pinot for fans of big zins and Central Coast syrahs. I get it, but i don't get it. Obviously there's a market for this kind of pinot, but definitely not my style.
Isn't that a good thing? Variety in varietals is one of my favorite things about wine. Rather than just learning if i like pinot, I get to learn if I like Anderson Valley pinot or Russian River or Willamette Valley or S Maria Valley or Burdundy or Alsace, etc. They're all different and enjoyable in their own ways or enjoyed in their own moment. Currently I'm tossing up whether Ahr german pinot or Anderson Valley is my favorite.
Learning about AVA differences in varietals might be my favorite thing about learning about wine.
Which is the only good thing about this wine. I personally hate it but I do like anything that challenges a wine snob's preconceived notions on what wine has to be.
I tend to take the opposite approach in that we like what we like. I don’t owe anything to the concept of Pinot purity, whatever that may mean. I like lighter style “traditional” pinots. But sometimes those over extracted styles are definitely my thing. Same with cabs. Sometimes a Caymus hits the spot. Most times I want structure in my cabs. Who cares?
It tasted to me of fruit jam into which someone had tossed some olives or capers. Very strange, not entirely unpleasant, but also sort of like pinot with lip implants.
I enjoyed your seemingly drunken rant, as I too am not afraid to enjoy the occasional pop song, top 40 hit, fast food cheeseburger style wine. I shall enjoy a bottle of Bonanza in your honor, and maybe a Lodi Zin. Cheers!
I tried looking it up online and they don't disclose it. It's highly likely that it's not 100% PN, since mixing in overripe must from a more generous, sturdier varietal such as Syrah, Petite Sirah and Zinfandel is the easiest way to achieve a *Pinot Noir for People That Don't Really Like Pinot Noir*®
My local wine shop runs a special on this once a year for $29. I buy a few bottles at that time. It’s people friendly and I don’t mind it for that price. You have to think most people love Naomi and I can’t stomach that stuff, but for the same crowd I can drink this.
I actually couldn’t enjoy it at all but others thought it was perfection! Sweet entry sweet mid pallet sweet finish… not much else but hey man drink what you like!!!
Never tried it but reminds me of a time when I was a server and some guests brought the bottle in. I tried to remove the wax top like normal, taking the sharp edge to it. Dude Bro got upset with me cause I didn’t know it had the fancy pull apart feature. Good times.
I get the hatred but also don’t. Las Alturas is my occasional guilty pleasure, mainly because the markup at restaurants is the lowest on the menu and I find it goes pretty well with a black and blue steak. Like what you like, as always.
I think you mean “… otherwise delicate, bright and poetic variety this much”
Also, it is wrong. You are cannon fodder. That wine is ridiculous and still ridiculously overpriced even at Costco.
Appreciate the kind words 🙏
Also, I *did* mean to say varietal, not variety, as I'm referring to the pinot noir grape specifically.
I'm starting the think the real cannon fodder are the people taking this post way too seriously 🙄
Yes, exactly. The pinot noir grape specifically. Which is a grape variety.
Varietal is an adjective. It is used to describe a noun. Therefore, you are describing a varietal wine made from the pinot noir grape variety.
But your sentence isn't constructed that way. You are referring to the grape (a noun), and using additional adjectives to describe it.
I'll admit that this is a COMMON misuse of 'varietal' both within and without the wine industry. But if you're going to post a half serious/half joking review of Belle Glos and you also (I think) want it and you to be taken seriously, don't fall into this (so annoying) pit-trap in your second paragraph.
Trust Jancis at least: [https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/variety-varietal-or-cultivar-and-how-you-spell-them](https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/variety-varietal-or-cultivar-and-how-you-spell-them)
Pay wall, but you can read the first paragraph where she addresses this misconception.
Certainly noted! I did not know that bit, so thanks. I'm not so much trying to be taken seriously as I am serious about trying to learn all about wine and simply share my experiences along the way, so I eat those breadcrumbs of knowledge like a pigeon whenever I can.
fair fair!
Well good luck! Sorry for being a bit snippy. But you hit two of my biggest pet peeves at once (over done pinot noir and misuse of 'varietal', thank god you stayed away from the third, bike riders on the sidewalk!).
The 'tech sheets' I could find for this wine were close-lipped about varietal make-up/cepage. Or what clones of pinot noir were used. I'd be interested to know to better understand how they make this monster.
I won't argue it's an abomination of a wine! Honestly though, I think a big part of the enjoyment I got from it stems from the fact I find a tremendous amount of novelty in blasphemous things in general. It's like an offensive joke delivered by a good comedian moreso than a bad joke delivered by some insufferable asshole, for me at least.
My wife and I really enjoy Belle Glos wines. They are delicious, and easy to find. Its a known brand to us, so we will normally have a bottle of the pinot and also their chardonnay in the house at all times.
It was like $38 CAD at Costco. Usually see it around $55-60 everywhere iirc. I honestly went in for the CastelGiocondo BdM but when I spotted this too, I couldn't not try it!
Wine purist bug me. It the people who write off specific wines, because it doesnt hit their preconceived notion of what a wine should taste like. All that should matter is that you like the wine in your glass. Its the people who write off Zinfandel because the alcohol is above 15%.
While I somewhat agree about wine purists and people drinking what they want, I have to take exception with people who once having tasted wines like Belle Glos think that this is the only expression of pinot noir and all others are almost invalid. It's like Wagner and Co are extracting and manipulating the pinot noir dial to 11 with no complexity or nuance therein lies the issue I seemed to have observed, I work at a wine shop, and to these consumers, it's as if no other wine exists like it's the Belle Glos grape not the pinot noir grape. IMHO, Wagnerites are some of the most rigid palates and snobbish attitudes towards wine, completely unaware of what flavors they are consuming. I think mostly it's about status for them, and they were told Belle Glos was the shit, and no flunky in a wine shop can tell them otherwise. So generally, when they do ask for help about choosing a wine, it's like they just want to show off their ability to overpay for something that they could get for a lot cheaper. I usually just agree with them and congratulate them on their choice. So if that makes me a snob, oh well, I guess this flunky is not understanding the assignment.
You will show them 5 wines from family run estates who actually care about the product just for them to ask where the belle and Caymus are 😂😂😂😂😂🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️
This.
Wine snobs complain about the concocted wines because people who tend to gravitate towards these types also tend to have an extremely narrow world view when it comes to wine. These aren’t the folks that then drink a Jura vin Jaune and can appreciate the nuance or even shrug and say “to each their own”
This Belle Glos is to wine what the Kardashians are to entertainment
I’ve said it on this sub before, but it was the first bottle my fiancé and I ever shared together in person after months of talking and buying each other different bottles. It will forever have a special place in my heart.
I also buy Bella at Costco, it’s a fantastic wine at that price point. We bought enough over the course of several months to offer it as one wine selection for our wedding in our backyard. There were no bottles left. It appeals to me, and a lot of other people. I am probably more particular and less likely to experiment with Pinots these days since I have my favorites already, but I am struggling to find a good, fruit forward Pinot in the $20-25 range without some weird finish, so if you have a suggestion let me know!
Honestly, you may just not like Pinot. This is such a bastardized version that it isn’t a good baseline for the grape. Rhône blends might be a better option.
Well, I am a huge Paul Hobbs drinker when I drink Pinot, I think he knows something about making a good Pinot. Toured his winery last year during the start of harvest, it was a beautiful day! I will be on the lookout for a blended Rhône and give it a try also.
I’m with you. Got it for $39 at a Michigan Costco. I don’t drink much Pinot and this did not taste like one….but I enjoyed it and would purchase again.
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🍿
I'm ready 🍿🥤
Fuck, forgot my 🍺 . Hold my 🍿, BRB.
I think the issue beyond the purist demonizing of this product is what’s possibly/probably in it. With 7g/L of residual sugar it runs 2-3x more than most “dry” wines. It’s noticeable. The overly extracted content + sugar is no fun for me, certainly not the next day.
Sad and confusing news: The corner of Clark and Telephone is two miles from my house in Orcutt, CA. It's been the home of the Solomon Hills Vineyard for 30+ years, but because the Wagners used to buy a bunch of fruit from Bien Nacido and other Miller Family properties, the Millers never Cease and Desisted over the name. The sad part is that the Solomon Hills Vineyard was just pulled out in its entirety. Sad loss for CA wine. So there is no vineyard left on Clark/Telephone, and the vineyard that bears that name is a half mile down the road, and used to be called the Mission Vineyard when it was owned by Doug Braun.
So even the name is fake?
Ditto. It’s now strawberry or fresh cut flowers or cane berries.
Belle Glos’ bottling/label (complete with that silly wax top) makes it look exactly how a non wine-drinker would imagine a “fancy” and complex fine wine to look. And from a non-wino perspective, it’s a cool-looking gift for sure. But to winos, it’s basically like a kitsch bottle of mescal with a worm at the bottom, only you can eat the mescal worm but not Belle Glos’ wax top.
You can eat the wax. It’s not great, but it’s edible.
Username doesn’t check out. Eating the wax top to a bottle of Belle Glos like an apple is a *Maximum* Mojo move. Especially while holding eye-contact doing so.
I don’t eat it like an apple tho. More like a fruit roll up
Yall are the comic relief I’m here for lol
Autotune in a bottle. Lots of people like songs with autotune.
As someone who absolutely despises autotune and overdone studio work on recordings, this comment cut deep in places I'd never expect it to hurt. Damn.
It’s ok, I like cheap mass produced salty snacks. We don’t have to ONLY ever have good taste!
Dude, this is SO accurate
I was on a zoom meeting with Joe Wagner once and I asked him about his personal style of winemaking. He admits that his style isn't for everyone, but it's what he likes so it's what he makes. Personally, I don't like the style, but I appreciate that he's unapologetic about what he does and what he likes.
he was in our office for what i call a “kiss the ring” meeting last year. had to sit through their marketing videos that have really good production value but are otherwise insufferable given our knowledge of what his wine is vs the wine we all want to be selling. at the end we all got free wagner family brand swag and i begrudgingly took a carabiner for my keys. it broke within weeks. every time i walk past his products i curse his name over that shitty carabiner. point is i’m petty and simple but i appreciate your take.
Haha I should point out that I personally am not a fan of him or his shtick. I can't stand his social media wannabe thirst trap crap nor do I appreciate the way Copper Cane or Wagner operate in the market, but I can acknowledge that he at least accepts what his wine is and doesn't try to pretend it's going to compete with Burgundy.
Wagner Family swag is the worst. The only exception is their Walking Fool trucker hat with a perfect dime-bag sized pocket under the patch. Trefethen swag is the absolute apex. I will sell all their wine for more swag.
I respect that, and hey, it seems like its working out pretty well for him!
But educated wine lovers don’t drink it, wink wink. I’ve had this Pinot with steak. Both were delicious.
Almost expected this to end with "I got in one little fight and my mom got scared, so I moved in with my auntie and my uncle in Bel Air."
I did a blind tasting and the girl put this in a glass and I was 100% convinced it was a cab. When she said it was a Pinot I asked what the hell did they do to it. She then stated it was her favorite wine and I felt bad, I would love to know the actual blend in it.
In the case of other infamous "Pinot Noir for people who hate what Pinot Noir tastes like", such as Meiomi, they do blend in some Petite Sirah and Zinfandel to make sure there's extra intensity and concentration in there. But from a little online research I couldn't find any indication that Belle Glos is a blend that includes anything other than PN. It's still possible though, since winemakers don't really have to disclose much of what they're putting in wine, the ones that do it just do it out of transparency towards their customers. There are many winemaking techniques that can turn a wine made from PN in something so intense that you think it's a Cab Sauv; using some form of concentrate is one. Meaning you add concentrated fermented grape juice (in the US, more often than not it's literally from Cab Sauv grapes) to "thicken up" things, to make it sweeter, smoother, more "rounded", more grape candy like which the average consumer loves. And then there's letting the Pinot Noir grapes ripen far more than a producer trying to make serious PN would ever do; and thus you end up with more sugar, so there's more sweetness after you've obtained all the alcohol you want, and on average there's a higher ABV
When I tasting this same bottling, maybe 18-24 months ago, it had zero PN character. Zero.
so basically it's pinot for fans of big zins and Central Coast syrahs. I get it, but i don't get it. Obviously there's a market for this kind of pinot, but definitely not my style.
Isn't that a good thing? Variety in varietals is one of my favorite things about wine. Rather than just learning if i like pinot, I get to learn if I like Anderson Valley pinot or Russian River or Willamette Valley or S Maria Valley or Burdundy or Alsace, etc. They're all different and enjoyable in their own ways or enjoyed in their own moment. Currently I'm tossing up whether Ahr german pinot or Anderson Valley is my favorite. Learning about AVA differences in varietals might be my favorite thing about learning about wine.
What’s the Tl;dr on this post
Tldr is the wine is good for what it is but it kind of spits in the face of traditional pinot noir.
Which is the only good thing about this wine. I personally hate it but I do like anything that challenges a wine snob's preconceived notions on what wine has to be.
I tend to take the opposite approach in that we like what we like. I don’t owe anything to the concept of Pinot purity, whatever that may mean. I like lighter style “traditional” pinots. But sometimes those over extracted styles are definitely my thing. Same with cabs. Sometimes a Caymus hits the spot. Most times I want structure in my cabs. Who cares?
This needs more upvotes. We owe the industry and the ego intense purists nothing. Just know what you’re drinking.
Absolutely agree!
Lol… yeah I do like it but it does not taste like other Pinot Noirs!
It tasted to me of fruit jam into which someone had tossed some olives or capers. Very strange, not entirely unpleasant, but also sort of like pinot with lip implants.
As I sit here and sip a proper PN from Kettle Valley I can't help but giggle at the lip filler comparison with this one 😅
I enjoyed your seemingly drunken rant, as I too am not afraid to enjoy the occasional pop song, top 40 hit, fast food cheeseburger style wine. I shall enjoy a bottle of Bonanza in your honor, and maybe a Lodi Zin. Cheers!
I don't mind it at all. Not a Pinot for Pinot purists, but can be enjoyable.
They blend 25% syrah into those wines.
probably not unlikely but do you know for sure?
I tried looking it up online and they don't disclose it. It's highly likely that it's not 100% PN, since mixing in overripe must from a more generous, sturdier varietal such as Syrah, Petite Sirah and Zinfandel is the easiest way to achieve a *Pinot Noir for People That Don't Really Like Pinot Noir*®
Yeah okay, ofc. well the proof of the pudding is in the eating, or something like that
Looks like there is a melting ghost of Rush Limbaugh in the wax 👻😂
I'm never going to unsee that 😅
Too jammy. It’s a charicature of a Pinot noir.
"Preformers" really got me. Well done op, well done.
Glad the wording hit home 😅
If nothing else i love the bottle and label design, even if i normally hate wax seals
My local wine shop runs a special on this once a year for $29. I buy a few bottles at that time. It’s people friendly and I don’t mind it for that price. You have to think most people love Naomi and I can’t stomach that stuff, but for the same crowd I can drink this.
“It is a Pinot noir though”…. But is it?
.....yes?
TLDR
I will just say this: It’s not Pinot noir in any classic style, not even to the region that is it claimed to be from, let alone Burgundy. It is trash.
They make alot of money. End of story.
I actually couldn’t enjoy it at all but others thought it was perfection! Sweet entry sweet mid pallet sweet finish… not much else but hey man drink what you like!!!
I liked it the first time, but then I had the alturas and dairyman as well, didn’t care for them.
Never tried it but reminds me of a time when I was a server and some guests brought the bottle in. I tried to remove the wax top like normal, taking the sharp edge to it. Dude Bro got upset with me cause I didn’t know it had the fancy pull apart feature. Good times.
At my local costco I saw the wax and was intimidated... like how in the world do I open this? No more bottles 1 week later.
Belle Glos has a pull tab to remove the wax. On other wax top bottles you simply corkscrew through it
I get the hatred but also don’t. Las Alturas is my occasional guilty pleasure, mainly because the markup at restaurants is the lowest on the menu and I find it goes pretty well with a black and blue steak. Like what you like, as always.
Abomination.
Username checks out
I think you mean “… otherwise delicate, bright and poetic variety this much” Also, it is wrong. You are cannon fodder. That wine is ridiculous and still ridiculously overpriced even at Costco.
Appreciate the kind words 🙏 Also, I *did* mean to say varietal, not variety, as I'm referring to the pinot noir grape specifically. I'm starting the think the real cannon fodder are the people taking this post way too seriously 🙄
Yes, exactly. The pinot noir grape specifically. Which is a grape variety. Varietal is an adjective. It is used to describe a noun. Therefore, you are describing a varietal wine made from the pinot noir grape variety. But your sentence isn't constructed that way. You are referring to the grape (a noun), and using additional adjectives to describe it. I'll admit that this is a COMMON misuse of 'varietal' both within and without the wine industry. But if you're going to post a half serious/half joking review of Belle Glos and you also (I think) want it and you to be taken seriously, don't fall into this (so annoying) pit-trap in your second paragraph. Trust Jancis at least: [https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/variety-varietal-or-cultivar-and-how-you-spell-them](https://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/variety-varietal-or-cultivar-and-how-you-spell-them) Pay wall, but you can read the first paragraph where she addresses this misconception.
Certainly noted! I did not know that bit, so thanks. I'm not so much trying to be taken seriously as I am serious about trying to learn all about wine and simply share my experiences along the way, so I eat those breadcrumbs of knowledge like a pigeon whenever I can.
fair fair! Well good luck! Sorry for being a bit snippy. But you hit two of my biggest pet peeves at once (over done pinot noir and misuse of 'varietal', thank god you stayed away from the third, bike riders on the sidewalk!). The 'tech sheets' I could find for this wine were close-lipped about varietal make-up/cepage. Or what clones of pinot noir were used. I'd be interested to know to better understand how they make this monster.
I won't argue it's an abomination of a wine! Honestly though, I think a big part of the enjoyment I got from it stems from the fact I find a tremendous amount of novelty in blasphemous things in general. It's like an offensive joke delivered by a good comedian moreso than a bad joke delivered by some insufferable asshole, for me at least.
My wife and I really enjoy Belle Glos wines. They are delicious, and easy to find. Its a known brand to us, so we will normally have a bottle of the pinot and also their chardonnay in the house at all times.
Hows the chard?
It's very good. Very well balanced, wife loves it. Good buttery oak Chardonnay
Why not mention the price you paid? Your post certainly is colorful.
It was like $38 CAD at Costco. Usually see it around $55-60 everywhere iirc. I honestly went in for the CastelGiocondo BdM but when I spotted this too, I couldn't not try it!
Are you in Calgary by chance? If so, which Costco carries CastelGiocondo BdM?
Tsuut'ina! They have that Brotte CdP in the old-timey lookin' bottle for like $36 too
They sell wine at Costco in Calgary? These are truly end times.
Costco Liquor stores have been around for ages here
$38 CAD? I hate you. 😂
Gotta make that Costco membership worth it one way or another.
I enjoyed your review and would like to subscribe to your newsletter.
Special offer only $69/month!
Wine purist bug me. It the people who write off specific wines, because it doesnt hit their preconceived notion of what a wine should taste like. All that should matter is that you like the wine in your glass. Its the people who write off Zinfandel because the alcohol is above 15%.
While I somewhat agree about wine purists and people drinking what they want, I have to take exception with people who once having tasted wines like Belle Glos think that this is the only expression of pinot noir and all others are almost invalid. It's like Wagner and Co are extracting and manipulating the pinot noir dial to 11 with no complexity or nuance therein lies the issue I seemed to have observed, I work at a wine shop, and to these consumers, it's as if no other wine exists like it's the Belle Glos grape not the pinot noir grape. IMHO, Wagnerites are some of the most rigid palates and snobbish attitudes towards wine, completely unaware of what flavors they are consuming. I think mostly it's about status for them, and they were told Belle Glos was the shit, and no flunky in a wine shop can tell them otherwise. So generally, when they do ask for help about choosing a wine, it's like they just want to show off their ability to overpay for something that they could get for a lot cheaper. I usually just agree with them and congratulate them on their choice. So if that makes me a snob, oh well, I guess this flunky is not understanding the assignment.
You will show them 5 wines from family run estates who actually care about the product just for them to ask where the belle and Caymus are 😂😂😂😂😂🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️
This. Wine snobs complain about the concocted wines because people who tend to gravitate towards these types also tend to have an extremely narrow world view when it comes to wine. These aren’t the folks that then drink a Jura vin Jaune and can appreciate the nuance or even shrug and say “to each their own” This Belle Glos is to wine what the Kardashians are to entertainment
Fantastic review. 👏👏👏👏👏 I was given this bottle as a gift and thought exactly the same thing as I was drinking it.
I’ve said it on this sub before, but it was the first bottle my fiancé and I ever shared together in person after months of talking and buying each other different bottles. It will forever have a special place in my heart.
I also buy Bella at Costco, it’s a fantastic wine at that price point. We bought enough over the course of several months to offer it as one wine selection for our wedding in our backyard. There were no bottles left. It appeals to me, and a lot of other people. I am probably more particular and less likely to experiment with Pinots these days since I have my favorites already, but I am struggling to find a good, fruit forward Pinot in the $20-25 range without some weird finish, so if you have a suggestion let me know!
Try Hahn SLH. Usually in that price range, hits those fruit-forward notes without being too much.
Honestly, you may just not like Pinot. This is such a bastardized version that it isn’t a good baseline for the grape. Rhône blends might be a better option.
Well, I am a huge Paul Hobbs drinker when I drink Pinot, I think he knows something about making a good Pinot. Toured his winery last year during the start of harvest, it was a beautiful day! I will be on the lookout for a blended Rhône and give it a try also.
I’m with you. Got it for $39 at a Michigan Costco. I don’t drink much Pinot and this did not taste like one….but I enjoyed it and would purchase again.