Everyone — well, almost everyone — is looking for a good pinot noir under $20. Well, here it is. The Parducci Small Lot Blend Pinot Noir ($14) is clean, friendly and downright tasty. This California red is a spicy mama — tropical and baking spices peek through — but it's also laden with dark red fruit, and just enough acidity and tannins to bring harmony to the lush mouthfeel and clean but ample finish. It's a light-bodied pinot but possesses enough oomph to play well with fish (especially salmon and trout) and fowl (especially roasted chicken or pheasant).
Available at Trader Joe's, Haskell's, Total Wines & More (Roseville and Woodbury), Party Time, Elevated (Minneapolis and White Bear Lake) and others.
BILL WARD
