1 Barbeque + 1 Excellent budget Pinot Noir = Awesome Saturday!

This past Saturday, I met up with my good friend Brett for a couple beers at a local San Francisco bar called Zeitgeist. On a sunny day, this bar is one of my favorites. It has a huge patio, a very alternative crowd, and some killer beers on tap. After 1 hour and a pitcher later, Brett and I picked up with wife and baby, and headed to our friend David's bbq fiesta.

As we walked, Brett and I contemplated what type of alcohol we should bring with us to the party. Having had our fill of beer, we decided that nothing would work better than a couple bottles of budget wine. Given it was hot out, we had to be careful about the varietal we chose. Choose something too heavy (like a merlot) and risk being perpetually thirsty. Pick something too light, and never be satisfied. In the end, we decided the best wine for this awesome Saturday was a Pinot Noir. 

The only liquor store in the vicinity was this mildly disgusting shop a few blocks away from Brett's house. At first I thought we'd never locate anything of quality, but then Brett found a wine that he swore was a budget top choice.

The wine was a Mont Pellier Pinot Noir. It retailed at this liquor store for $9.99, but Brett informed me that he had paid as little as $7 for the same bottle.

We arrived at the BBQ and before we could even say hello to the host, we had cracked open our first bottle of Mont Pellier. I gave it about 3 seconds to breath before I took my first sip. Verdict? Awesome! This Pinot was smooth, oddly refreshing, and had a very slight aftertaste. It went well with every tidbit of food that I was able to get my hands on- twice baked potatoes, artichoke dip, salt and pepper chips, chicken apple sausage, and a few others I can't seem to recollect.

This wine was so good that I can foresee this Pinot becoming a staple in my budget wine collection. And you never know, maybe the disgusting liquor store will become my new hang out!

Recommendation: Definitely Buy It

Update: Passionate and loyal reader Gunnar Ostergren found me a picture of the Mont Pellier. Thanks man!!

Comments

[phil]

Do you know what vintage of the Mont Pellier Pinot you tried?

[Dorian- Budget Vino]

Phil,

I think it was a 2005, but I'm not definite. I'll see if I can find it in my notes and get back to you.

[Stacy]

Just curious, what do you think of the Smoking Loon Pinot Noir? I think it sells for just over $10 but I get in on sale when the local grocery drops it to $7.98. My brother-in-law introduced us to it ...