QPR Alert: Best California Pinot Noir value ever?

So I was poking around the Wine Spectator ratings database to see how early reviews for 2012 California Pinot Noirs were trending. For me it's been an inconsistent vintage and a bit disappointing compared to high expectations.

But I spotted a web-only review for a wine I hadn't noticed before. The 2012 Castle Rock Russian River Valley Reserve Pinot Noir was rated 90 points by Wine Spectator. With an $18 release price it's the only sub-$20 California Pinot Noir Wine Spectator has rated 90+ points going all the back to the 2007 vintage.

See also: Cheap Wine Spectator subscription with airline miles

The next closest thing I could find was the 2007 Siduri Sonoma County Pinot Noir at $20/90 points. So going by the numbers this may very well be the best affordable QPR play for California Pinot Noir Wine Spectator has ever offered up.

Although I've had my share of Castle Rock wines in the past (you see it all over the place including Trader Joe's from time to time) I don't think I've ever had one of their "Reserve" wines. Whatever that means. Nonetheless their wines are generally "good" and sometimes "very good" and they're almost always a respectable value.

But this one really has me curious. 90 points for less than $20 in a category I really enjoy drinking? Sold.

See also: Extreme Value - $8 California Pinot Noir

At just 2,600 cases produced expect this one to be possible to find but not necessarily easily. WWP sponsor Liquid Discount has it for $16.95/bottle. Stack it with code WWP7 for 7% off site-wide through April 23rd:

2012 Castle Rock Russian River Valley Reserve Pinot Noir at Liquid Discount

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Question of the Day: Have you had this or other Castle Rock Pinot Noir recently? If so what did you think?

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WellesleyWinePress/~3/HP4SzbDHURM/qpr-alert-best-california-pinot-noir.html

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