The Data

Country   USA

Appellation   California

Varietal   Pinot Noir

Retail Price   $9.99

ABV   13.2%

Score   4 Stars/93 points

In the Glass

Brilliant, medium ruby color.

The nose is moderately intense offering scents of red cherry and raspberry with supporting notes of pomegranate, mineral, and hints of black tea.

The palate echoes the nose delivering a red fruit-driven core with flavors of red currant and rose petals. The finish is long and lingering with subtle tart cherry accents and supple tannins.

Medium-bodied and perfectly balanced with a silky texture.

Cool Factor

California Pinot Noir at $10 in an attractive package with hedonistic and complex flavors is just about as good as it gets and it's 100% cool.

Value Grade

An undisputed best buy. You simply will not find a better made Pinot Noir with style and depth for less money.

Analysis

This 2016 Nia Pinot Noir is the second vintage that we have seen and as impressed as we were with the 2015, the 2016 Pinot might be even better. Just as exciting is that they have maintained their $9.99 price making this one of the top Pinot Noir values. The grapes are primarily sourced from California's Mendocino County. The vineyard is located just north of Ukiah in the heart of the Mendocino AVA. The vines range in age from nine to 11 years and are split between two clones: Pommard and Wadenswil. The wine is rested in used French barriques for a period of six months. Buy this one by the case!

How to Enjoy

All you need is a glass but the wine's bright acidity, tart fruits, and mineral make it a great choice at the table with everything from roasted fowl to grilled meat.