One of the most elusive grape varieties to find good values in wine is Pinot Noir. It is a fickle grape and grows well only in certain areas. The quality can be variable and it is not easy find the best wines for the price. Recently, we tasted through 21 Pinots from around the world. We rejected four of them for this article because they came up short qualitatively for their respective price points. 

Oregon 

2019 Willamette Valley Vineyards "Whole Cluster" Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley ($25) - This is a delightful young Pinot Noir. The fermentation of uncrushed fruit results in a brilliant red colored wine with bright aromas and flavors of strawberry, cranberry and currant, along with scents of spring flowers and lavender. The charm continues on the back with raspberry and cassis liqueurs, light tannins and vivid fruit acids on the finish. "Delicious," says Lynn. Purchased for $18.99 at Safeway. 18.5/20 points.

2018 Willamette Valley Vineyards Estate Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley ($40) - This displays a deep brick red color and an enticing nose of wild strawberries, cherries, red currants, crushed red roses, mulberry, orange peel, rubbed sage and incense. The flavors, as well, are seductive, with lavish red fruits that are intermixed with licorice, cocoa powder, black tea and volcanic minerals. The back reveals pressed fruits, kirsch and cassis liqueurs and recurring orange peel, followed by a smooth tannin and balanced acid finish. Purchased for $28.99 at Safeway. 18.5+/20 points.

2018 Erath Pinot Noir, Oregon ($25) - This is an amiable Pinot Noir. It shows a medium brick red color and attractive aromas of raspberry, cherry, currant, red roses, sweet tobacco, fennel and whiffs of incense. The flavors are medium bodied and approachable, with red licorice, pekoe tea and dusty earth. The accessibility continues on the back with pressed berries, toasted nuts, and framboise and cerise liqueurs, followed by a pleasing soft tannin finish. Purchased at Super 1 for $19.99. 18/20 points.

2018 The Four Graces Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley ($30) - This wine possesses a brick red color and attractive aromas of raspberry, cherry, currant, red roses, mulberry, anise and whiffs of sweet incense. The medium bodied flavors are bright and vivid, with red fruits that are imbued with licorice, cola, medium roast coffee and earth. On the back, the wine turns chewy textured yet supple, with pressed berries, toasted nuts, cherry and cassis liqueurs and a bit of orange peel, followed by a juicy moderate tannin finish. Purchased for $22.99 at Safeway. 18.5/20 points.

2018 Argyle Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley ($30) - Brick red colored, this wine emits rich, slightly smoky aromas of strawberries, red cherries, red currants, red roses, tobacco leaf and stick incense. The flavors are medium bodied but substantial, with notes of red licorice, cocoa powder, herbal tea and a bit of dusty earth. The smooth textured back picks up pressed berries, roasted nuts and mocha on the way to a slightly grainy yet smooth tannin finish. Purchased for $23.99 at Safeway. 18.5/20 points. 

California 

2018 Meiomi Pinot Noir Monterey-Santa Barbara-Sonoma ($25) - This three county blend shows a deep ruby-crimson color and aromas of black cherries, black currants, black plums, black roses, mulberry, tobacco, lavender and whiffs of incense. The flavors mirror the aromatics withdraw fruits that are ample and forward yet focused, intermixed with licorice, bittersweet chocolate, coffee beans and minerals. The saturation continues on the back with macerated berries, roasted nuts, kirsch and creme de cassis liqueurs and pencil shavings, followed by a sweet-dry tannin finish. 18.5/20 points.

2016 La Crema Pinot Noir, Monterey ($24) - This shows a medium brick red color and aromas of raspberry, currant, plum, rosebuds, tobacco, bay leaf and whiffs of orange incense. The flavors are amiable and medium bodies, with red fruits that are intermixed with red licorice, cola and dusty earth. The back picks up gently pressed fruits and touches of orange peel and toast on the way to a soft yet fruit acid lifted finish. Not weighty, but as Lynn says, "Very pleasant." A super buy when purchased for $13.99. 18/20 points.

2016 Rodney Strong Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley ($25) - This displays medium brick red color and expressive aromas of strawberry, cherry, currant, rose petals, mulberry, vanillin, sage and stick incense. The flavors, as well, are amiable, with medium bodied red fruits that are imbued with red licorice, cocoa, black tea and gravelly earth. On the back, the wine turns chewy yet smooth textured, with sensations of pressed berries and toasty oak, followed by a soft moderate tannin finish. Purchased for $16.99 at Safeway. 18+/20 points.

Washington

While Pinot Noir is not a "signature" grape as it is in Oregon, there are some noteworthy Pinots from the Lake Chelan and Columbia Gorge (which straddles Washington and Oregon).

2018 AGO Pinot Noir, Columbia Gorge ($40) - Sourced from the Phelps Creek Vineyard across the River, this displays a brick red color and smoky aromas of fraises de bois, cherries, brambly currants, dried rose petals, tobacco leaf, wildflowers and incense. The flavors are supple yet well delineated, with notes of licorice, Swiss chocolate and mountainside minerals. The back picks up fraise and creme de cassis liqueurs and dried cherries on the soft tannin finish. Reviewed July. 18.5+/20 points.

2017 Hard Row to Hoe Pinot Noir, Lake Chelan ($40) - Whole cluster fermented, this shows a medium brick red color and aromas of fraises de bois, red  currants, pomegranates, dried rose petals, forest carpet and incense. The medium bodied flavors are true to variety, with red fruits that are imbued with licorice, baker's chocolate, black tea and glacial minerals. The back reveals pressed fruits, creme de cassis and light oak followed by a smooth tannin finish. Reviewed August. 18.5+/20 points. 

New Zealand

2017 Duck Hunter Pinot Noir, Marlborough ($30) - I picked this up at Safeway. Ruby-garnet colored, it emits rich, smoky aromas of raspberry, cherry, plum, rosebuds, tobacco, orange peel and incense. The medium bodied flavors mirror the aromatics with fleshy red fruits that are intermixed with licorice, cocoa, Earl Grey tea and gravelly earth. On the back, the wine firms up a bit with pressed fruits, toasted nuts, orange peel and pencil shavings, followed by a moderate tannin finish. Purchased for $19.99. 18/20 points.

Burgundy

Burgundy is the birthplace of Pinot Noir. But it is hard to find outstanding ones for under $40 a bottle. This is due to the limited supply and high demand. But here are five that offer excellent price-quality ratios. 

2018 Domaine du Prieuré Bourgogne Pinot Noir ($21.99 - Esquin) - From a vineyard in Savigny, this wine offers a brick red color and attractive aromas of strawberry, red cherry, red currant, rose petals, spring flowers and whiffs of white incense. The medium bodied flavors are charming yet substantial, with notes of red licorice, baker's chocolate and hillside minerals. The back picks up pressed berries, creme de cassis and toast, followed by a soft tannin finish. 18/20 points.

2018 Domaine du Prieuré Bourgogne Hautes Côte be Beaune ($21.99 - Esquin) - The Hautes Côte de Beaune are the slopes above the Côte Beaune. Brick red colored, it possesses attractive aromas of strawberry, cherry, currant, rosebuds, pine needles and wood smoke. The flavors are medium bodied and direct but solid, with notes of red licorice, black tea and high elevation earth and minerals. The back picks up fraise and cassis liqueurs and a touch of pencil lead on the way to a nicely juiced soft tannin finish. 18/20 points.

2018 Jean-Marc Pillot Bourgogne Rouge, "Les Grands Terres" ($39 - The Thief, Walla Walla) - This comes from 60+ year-old vines in Remilly, 2 km south of Chassage-Montrachet. Deep ruby-crimson colored, it emits enticing aromas of cherry, black currant, plum, black roses, fennel, violets and incense. The flavors are varietally definitive, with notes of licorice, bittersweet chocolate, black tea and earth. The solidity continues on the back with sensations of pressed fruits, roasted nuts, mocha and soft graphite, followed by a moderate tannin finish that is lifted by bright fruit acids. 18.5+/20 points.

2017 Regis Bouvier Bourgogne Pinot Noir ($23.99 - Esquin) - From a grower in Marsannay at the north end of the Côte d'Or, this wine shows a brick red color and a typical varietal nose of wild strawberries, red cherries, red currants, red roses, tobacco leaf, fennel and whiffs of incense. The flavors are engaging as well, with supple red fruits that are imbued with red licorice, milk chocolate, medium roast coffee and earth. The back picks up gently pressed berries, mocha, fraise and cassis liqueurs and toast, followed by a slightly grainy moderate tannin finish. 18.5/20 points.

2016 Joseph Drouhin Côte de Beaune Villages ($38.99 - Esquin) - From a respected Beaune negotiant, this offers a brick red color and a typical varietal nose of wild strawberries, red cherries, red currants, red roses, tobacco leaf fennel and whiffs of incense. The medium bodied flavors are rich and velvety, yet substantial, with definite Burgundian Pinot Noir character, accompanied by notes of red licorice, coca, medium roast coffee and a touch of dusty earth. On the back, the wine fleshens out with sensations of fraise and creme de cassis liqueurs and toasted nuts, and then drifts into a satiny moderate tannin finish. 18.5+/20 points.

Finally, here is a more upscale Burgundy, to show what you can get if you reach deeper into your pocket. 

2016 Domaine Bouchard Pere & Fils Savigny-lès-Beaune Premier Cru, Les Lavieres ($59.99 - Esquin) - This exhibits a deep brick red color and intoxicating aromas of wild fruits - raspberries, black cherries, black currants - with scents of crushed black roses, pipe tobacco, sandalwood and sultry incense. On the palate, the flavors are thick and generous yet focused, with layers of black and blue fruits that are infused with licorice, cocoa, French roast and granitic minerals. On the back, the wine turns simultaneously chewy and velvety, with sensations of macerated fruits, toasted nuts, framboise, creme de cassis and kirsch liqueurs, followed by a lingering sweet-dry Burgundian finish. 19+/20 points.