407068 Fri Jun 01 05:41:24 -0700 2007 2 34 Wine 0 2619835 My husband and I tried Amici Pinot Noir, I think it's a 2003 vintage, over a year ago and now we are unable to enjoy any other Pinot. It's price point is more than we normally spend for a bottle of wine, around $50 a bottle. Has anyone tried it and found a less expensive "replacement"? We wouldn't mind spending $20 to $25 on a fairly regular basis. Here's what we're looking for: By Wine Spectator,OCT-05 Rated: 85 Concentrated, with wild berry, cinnamon, orange rind and fresh sage tones wrapped in cedary oak and herb-edged tannins. Drink now through 2007. 500 cases made. Any suggestions or are we hopelessly spoiled and just need to pony up and spend the extra $$? Doesn't have to be a pinot either. Fri Jun 01 05:41:25 -0700 2007 99134 Texchef 1 2620005 Amici produces their Pinot Noir from Mendocino Co. grapes. Check out Anderson Valley's other producers at http://www.avwines.com/ Navarro Vineyards is excellent, but difficult to find retail. It's worth the effort to seek out -- I don't know where you live -- and you can check out their website at http://www.navarrowine.com/ Their Pinot is a) less expensive, and b) better -- IMHO. Breggo is a new producer but they're making excellent Pinots -- http://www.breggo.com/ The same is true of Goldeneye -- http://www.goldeneyewinery.com/ Both, however, are priced closer to $50 than they are to $25. Harmonique, Lazy Creek, Handley and even the sparkling wine producer, Roederer Estate -- all make some excellent Pinots. Leaving the Anderson Valley of Mendocino behind, you may also want to explore the Pinots from wineries like Morgan in Monterey -- which sells their Pinot Noir for approx. $30, http://www.morganwinery.com/ -- or Talbott, whose Logan Pinot is under $20 -- http://www.talbottvineyards.com/ The last 10 years have seem an explosion of high-quality Pinot Noirs being produced *consistently* in California. Also, there are some great Pinots foming from Oregon, New Zealand and -- of course -- Burgundy. ALL have wonderful wines available for under $25 in the U.S. Your BEST BET is to seek out a serious wine merchant near you, who can get to know your tastes and recommend bottles for you to try. I can, for example, tell you that Storrs Winery makes an excellent Pinot Noir -- but you may never be able to find any, and wouldn't that be frustrating? Fri Jun 01 06:48:58 -0700 2007 2619835 28122 zin1953 2 2622024 Thanks a bunch! Fri Jun 01 16:32:30 -0700 2007 2620005 99134 Texchef