The Data

Country   USA

Appellation   California

Varietal   Pinot Noir

Retail Price   $9.99

ABV   13.6%

Score   4 Stars/92 points

In the Glass

Brilliant, medium ruby color.

The nose is moderately intense offering scents of raspberry and pomegranate with supporting notes of red cherry, slate, and five spice.

The palate confirms the nose delivering a red fruit-driven core with flavors of boysenberry, rose petals, and dried herbs. The finish is long and lingering with subtle, tart red fruit accents.

Medium-bodied and perfectly balanced with a vibrant 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 2018 Nia Pinot Noir is the third vintage that we have seen it it certainly lives up to the two previous 4-Star performances. 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 rare over a decade old and are split between two clones: Pommard and Wadenswil. We just don't know how Nia manages to make a Pinot Noir with depth and true varietal character and sell it for 10 bucks!

How to Enjoy

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