292901 Wed May 21 23:23:11 -0700 2003 15 27 General Chowhounding Topics 0 1600431 The search for a decent Pinot Noir under $15 has some similarities to trying to find a needle in a haystack. A year ago I was thrilled to be able to recommend one here. (http://www.chowhound.com/boards/general11/messages/30990.html) I've found another one - 2001 Echelon Central Coast Pinot Noir - from California and it's even better and cheaper! In March I was a judge in the Monterey Wine Competition. The three-judge panel I sat on blind tasted and evaluated nearly 100 Pinots from all over the world in one sitting. On the second day, we retasted the small number of wines that we had judged as Gold and Silver medalists as a control step to make sure we had been careful and consistent in our assessments. We had given this wine a Silver, and we judged it up to Gold based on this retasting. In fact, we then submitted it for consideration for Sweepstakes award as best red wine of the competition, and it beat out several other contenders in this next round of tasting but didn't quite make the final cut. I was shocked when its identity and PRICE were revealed, it had stood up very well with wines that are two to four times more expensive. What sets this wine apart is that it actually has good depth and length, unusual for a wine in this price range. The exotic nose is almost tropical with banana and jasmine notes mingled with cherry fruit. The entry is candied black cherry fruit, then fans out with more sweet red fruit and strawberry character and notes of earth, green tea and oak spice, through a long and supple finish. It's nicely balanced and well-integrated for near term enjoyment. Tasted three times with consistent results, this is a solid 88-point wine that's just a bit shy of the complexity needed to hit the 90-point mark. The suggested retail price is $10. Discounters in the San Francisco area are featuring it for $8. 37K cases were produced, so there's a good chance you can find it in your local markets. Link: http://marketing.chalonewinegroup.net/Echelon/TechSheets/01EchelonPinotNoirTech.pdf Image: http://marketing.chalonewinegroup.net/Echelon/PhotographyArt/LabelScans/01EchPNLabel_low.jpg Wed May 21 23:23:11 -0700 2003 0 Melanie Wong 1 1600479 Not that Melanie isn't a credible source, but I just wanted to second her recommendation. A chef friend of mine has served this by the glass in his restauraunt on an off for several years, and it's typically been quite good. Thu May 22 12:18:23 -0700 2003 1600431 0 SLRossi 2 1600770 Does anyone know where to find this wine in the Sacramento area? Sun May 25 16:29:37 -0700 2003 1600479 0 Marion 3 1601043 Coincidentally, the restaurant I referred to is The Waterboy in Sac. Not sure if Rick gets this from Henry or Southern, but it should be around. Maybe BevMo? Wed May 28 14:15:54 -0700 2003 1600770 0 SLRossi 4 1601063 Bev Mo in SF Bay area carries it @ $12.99. Wed May 28 20:13:37 -0700 2003 1601043 0 chowfish 5 1601065 I found it at Cost Plus for $9.99 (albeit a Cost Plus in Phoenix, AZ, but it's worth a shot). Wed May 28 20:17:04 -0700 2003 1601063 0 kjhart 6 1601086 I found it at Kappy's in Revere Ma. @ $13.99. Thanks very much for this recommendation. I've had an awful hard time finding a good pinot noir at a reasonable price. Thu May 29 08:26:33 -0700 2003 1601065 0 pluziam 7 1601090 Martignetti's in Brighton(?) has it for $11.99. Thanks for the recommendation! Thu May 29 10:05:45 -0700 2003 1601086 0 GreenStreetThrill 1 1600543 Just opened a bottle last night. I paid $10 yesterday at my local shop and I'm going back for a case this afternoon. Thu May 22 19:34:31 -0700 2003 1600431 0 wrharper 1 1600546 Just bought a case. It's a little more on the East Coast, but still nicely priced if it's as good as you say. And if it isn't, I'll track you down! Thu May 22 20:23:48 -0700 2003 1600431 0 Dave Feldman 2 1600568 Or you could have a few parties! (G) Link: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/24261#94263 Thu May 22 23:33:51 -0700 2003 1600546 0 Melanie Wong 2 1600580 Bought a case! Am always looking for inexpensive wine recommendations, particularly Pinot Noir. Thanks Melanie! Fri May 23 07:49:41 -0700 2003 1600546 0 David Greenbaum 2 1600581 Bought a case! Am always looking for inexpensive wine recommendations, particularly Pinot Noir. Thanks Melanie! Fri May 23 07:49:42 -0700 2003 1600546 0 David Greenbaum 2 1600733 Do you know where I can get it in NYC or New Jersey? Sun May 25 01:50:20 -0700 2003 1600546 0 Bill 3 1600750 Bill, I'd suggest doing what I did -- try www.wineaccess.com. They'll give you a list of merchants within 30 miles of your ZIP code, and who will deliver (I'm not sure if New Jersey laws are as draconian as New York's). I found a store in Chelsea that will deliver in NYC for free and offers a case discount. Link: http://www.wineaccess.com Sun May 25 11:50:13 -0700 2003 1600733 0 Dave Feldman 4 1600771 Dave, Thanks for your help. I went to the site you suggested and found a wine shop that carries it. Sun May 25 16:36:41 -0700 2003 1600750 0 Bill