Pinot Noir Its reputation for being difficult to grow due to its thin, dark skin earned it a name. In some winemaking circles, it’s known as the heartbreak grape. It’s native to BurgundyThe variety is susceptible to disease and infection, and thrives best in cooler climates. The variety can produce light, refreshing red wines that are easy to drink, and which can be ranked among the best in the world.
Pinot Noir’s profile typically leans into tart and fruity or earthy and savory, with hints of umami. The light-bodied reds can serve both in high-quality wines. After tasting more than 250 wines at VinePairHQ, these 25 wines highlighted everything you should know about Pinot Noir.
These 25 top Pinot Noirs are from all over the world, including the Yarra Valley, Anderson Valley, and the Finger Lakes of New York State.
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Hirsch Vineyards Block 8 Pinot Noir
The winery is a testament to how balanced and elegant Sonoma Pinot Noir can become year after year. Although the alcohol content is slightly higher, it adds to the depth of aroma and subtle fruits. Make no mistake, there is power in this bottle — it just doesn’t announce it. You can taste the difference as you take a sip.
Average price: $104
Rating: 97
Merry Edwards Pinot Noir
This wine will grab your attention with its rich, complex palate. It’s soft, elegant, and yet well-structured. The mouthfeel is light and delicate, with a great balance of acidity and fruit concentrate. It’s a classic Russian River Pinot that sets a standard.
Average price is $70
Rating: 96
Papapietro Per Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
Smooth is the key word here. This Pinot is fruity and full-bodied, with a lot of chewy fruit. It is balanced by a high level of active acidity. Just as you’re enjoying the deep, rich core of this wine, the high tone enters and cleanses the palate.
Average price: $64
Rating: 92
Pinot Noir in Billsboro
This wine is leaner. Being a cool- — nay cold- — climate wine, the natural acidity here is high. The wine’s earthy flavors are well balanced and bring out the flavor. A great cheese plate wine.
Average price $26
Rating: 89
Pinot Noir by Mac Forbes
We don’t see many Aussie Pinots on our market, so it was awesome being able to taste this bottle from the Yarra Valley (known for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay). It smells all fruit and minerality, but it is deceiving. The mouthfeel says “hold my stemware” and adds a welcome fat, juicy vibe that cuts through the lean.
Average price: $36
Rating: 91
Iterum Cloone 114 Orchard House Vineyard Pinot Noir
This is one rare moment when clones can be used. This wine, as well as its counterpart made with the 115 Clone, is stunning and focused. They are both amazing examples of American Pinot Noir. This 114 clone is so balanced, you have to taste it. With deep fruit and balanced acidity, it’s luscious and thirst-quenching.
Average price: $75
Rating: 97
Iterum Cloone 115 Orchard House Vineyard Pinot Noir
These wines were wonderful single-vineyard clonal bottlings, so we just had to combine them. This one is more balanced than the 114, which is rich and full-bodied. It has a delicate rhubarb aroma, which breaks up cherry fruits and has a quaint tannin frame.
Average price: $75
Rating: 96
Smith Story Wine Cellars Helluva Vineyard Pinot Noir
This is one fun Pinot! It is rich and full-bodied with a wonderful earthiness. The mouthfeel is lively with a chewy center and lots of acidity. It is ready to be chilled and grill.
Average price $51
Rating: 92
Johan Vineyards Estate Pinot Noir
New AVA alert! This wine is a great example of the Van Duzer Corridor AVA, which was established in 2019. It’s an elegant and savory Pinot with some nice herby vibes. The wine is full of structure thanks to the exceptional natural acidity and fruit that more than compensates. This one will make you thirsty — for more.
Price average: $60
Rating: 93
Pinot Noir from Buttonwood Grove Winery
Don’t sleep on Finger Lakes Pinot Noir! This wine is characterized by a fruity, lean nose. It has cherry and spice flavors. It has a pleasant mouthfeel that is bright and lively, but also shows a good balance.
Average price $26
Rating: 89
Six Eighty Cellars Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir Finger Lakes is lean. That’s how they roll up there. You need to get a fruit core that is strong enough to withstand the high notes. The winery is a study of Cayuga Lake soils. They are extremely in tune with their soil. The wine’s palate is rich and chewy with natural acidity that brightens everything. It is a light-bodied, delicious wine.
Average price $42
Rating: 90
Adelsheim Vineyard Pinot Noir Breaking Ground
This is mountain fruit. It is a rich, chewy wine with plenty of minerals. The wine’s rich, bright tone is a great contrast to its core, making it refreshing.
Average price: $49
Rating: 89
Child’s Play Pinot Noir
This Pinot has some fat around its edges. You can tell from the heady nose it’s going to be deep. It’s a Pinot with classic cherry aromas but also that awesome dollop of cinnamon. It’s also toothsome with a tannic grip. It is big, balanced and chewy.
Average price $32
Rating: 92
Tendril Wine Cellars ‘Extrovert’ Pinot Noir
This wine is a boozy Pinot in every sense. This wine is rich and inviting with brandy-soaked cherry aromas. The wine is balanced with great acidity.
Average price: $52
Rating: 93
Heart & Hands Mo Chuisle
I can’t pronounce the name of this single vineyard wine and I don’t care because the wine is so good. This Cayuga Lake Pinot Noir shows great focus and expression. It is very minerally with a pleasant cherry mocha aroma. It’s fleshy, slightly tannic, and would definitely benefit from a slightly below cellar-temp chill.
Average price: $66
Rating: 91
Pinot Noir from St. Innocent Shea vineyard
Take a deep breath. This wine is truly extraordinary. This wine is the epitome of this wine region (sub AVAs included). I feel like this is what winemakers saw in the ‘60s when they were planting this grape even though others said don’t even try. It’s soft depth of fruit will make you swoon. As the slight tannic touch releases, the fleshiness will cover your palate. It’s a tough one to write about, you just need to try it.
Average price: $63
Rating: 96
Ram’s Gate Winery Carneros Pinot Noir
If you’re going to make Pinot Noir in Napa, Carneros is the move. This wine has a lot oak, but it only enhances the complexity of its nose. Cherry aromas are tinged by subtle citrus. It is rich and complex, but the San Pablo Bay acidity balances it all.
Average price $92
Rating: 90
Division ‘Deux’ Pinot Noir
This wine contains grapes from old vines (50 year old in the New World of Wine). It shows. The wine is soft with light fruit and hints of herbs. The wine’s structure is excellent thanks to its natural acidity, lithe tannins, and natural acidity.
Average price $44
Rating: 91
Williams-Selyem Savoy Pinot Noir
Anderson Valley wines are vibrant and lively, but also deep and elegant. This wine is located in the middle. It is full-bodied with juicy fruit, classic Pinot cherry aromas, and a pleasant palate. It’s light, but it is concentrated, and the acidity is almost at its peak. The wine flows almost seamlessly because of the balance in this bottle.
Average price $140
Rating: 90
Waits-Mast Family Cellars Wentzel Wine Pinot Noir
Wait a second. You guys haven’t had Pinot Noir from the cool-climate Anderson Valley. Well, you’re in for a real treat. This wine is stunning and has a wonderful balance. It is rich in soulful cherry fruits with just a hint of oak. The palate may give you pause because it’s so balanced. This is a lovely balance between soft and chewy fruits, subtle tannins and amazing acidity.
Average price: $47
Rating: 95
Pinot Noir from Archery Summit Dundee Hills
The wine is very solid. It’s got a prominent oak, harkening back to a time when oak was everything, but backs off just enough to give a nice taught mouthfeel and some added cherry notes on the palate. It’s refreshing and tart and very balanced.
Price average: $60
Rating: 91
Wentworth ‘Wentworth Vineyard’ Pinot Noir
Yes, this wine transcends space and time. Or at least that’s what I experienced when I first sipped it. Just the scent alone will make you swoon. It absorbs into your senses, and stimulates your whole palate. Although I could go on about fruit and other things, this wine is much more than that. It’s an epic American Pinot Noir.
Average price: $125
Rating: 96
Joyce Vineyards ‘Submarine Canyon’ Pinot Noir
Monterey Pinot Noir is unique in its quality. These wines are airy, as if acidity is a cloud or fruit is the water it holds. These wines have a pleasant cinnamon aroma, along with the traditional cherry aromas. These qualities are all present in this wine. It’s light, vibrant, fat, and juicy all at the same time.
Average price $26
Rating: 90
Pinot Noir by Weis Vineyards
Make Finger Lakes Pinot Noir deep and dark. Balance that coziness with vibrant acidity to lift its core. That’s what this wine is. The warmth of this wine makes it tempting to pair it with fatty pork and marinated mushrooms crostini in front of the fireplace.
Average price $30
Rating: 91
Pinot Noir at Big Table Farm Pelos Sandberg Vineyard Pinot Noir
Juicy! Punchy! The wine is balanced, focused, and yet so playful. There is a pleasant push and pull of cherry and oak aromas in the nose that carry over to the palate. This wine jives well with the vibrant, fleshy fruit.
Average price: $75
Rating: 90