Ninety Plus Cellars California Pinot Noir Lot 179 Review
Easy-drinking, red berry fruit-forward Pinot Noir of exceptional value, if not much character. It lacked structure and finish.
Wine review by: Jessyca Frederick |
FYI: I find great wine deals so you don’t have to. To keep me on the hunt, I earn a commission when you buy wine based on my recommendations.
About this Wine
Wine: 2022 California Pinot Noir Lot 179
Blend: 100% Pinot Noir
Region: California
Retail price: $12.49
I consumed it: April 2024
My source: 90+ Cellars Wine Club
The Back Label
Where to Buy It
Buy it at: Ninety Plus Cellars
Discover More
From this wine club: 90+ Cellars Wine Club
From this winery: Ninety Plus Cellars
Region: California
Wine color/style: Red wine
Grape variety or blend: Pinot noir
Tasting notes: Red fruit, Vanilla
Other characteristics: Smooth
California Pinot Noir Lot 179: What I think
Pinot Noir — whether you love it or hate it — is a great wine for beginners, and this particular Pinot Noir is perfect for beginners or those ready to move on beyond sweet wines like Moscato.
Overall, I found this wine to be impressive for $12.49, but I didn't like that the wine lacked structure (tannins and acidity) and I really didn’t like the vanilla. Vanilla in wine comes from the oak or the yeasts used to ferment the sugars into alcohol. Either way, it’s not a natural flavor and is often dispatched to cover a wine’s flaws (typically when they’re produced with cheaper grapes).
My tasting notes: I found the wine had red fruit, cherry blossom, and rose petal on the nose. It tasted primarily of redcurrant, cherry, and vanilla, with a hint of strawberry, black tea, and fall leaves. The mouthfeel was smooth and round, with a medium body and medium finish.
90+ Cellars is a wine negociant. They source wine in all stages of production — from grapes in the vineyard to finished wines — and bottle them under their own label. Many other companies use the negociant model, which was invented in France, and for value-seeking wine lovers who want more than Barefoot or Apothic, 90+ Cellars is a must-see winery.
Last updated: May 2, 2024
Notice: I hold no formal wine credentials. I am a wine geek who has consumed 1000+ of bottles from 100+ different wine clubs and 1000s more bottles that didn’t come from those wine clubs. I do not accept payment for wine reviews, and I do not accept payments to influence my opinions. I happily accept free wine (and I buy wine).
Why read my wine reviews: Wine taste is subjective. What I like may not be what you like. I try to leave room for you to form your own opinions, so I don’t provide a score or a rating. I do point out wines that are an incredible value or truly not worth the money. I note flaws, wines that don’t have typicity (because this matters if you are buying wine without having tasted it yourself), when wines are out of balance, and when wines lack appropriate body.
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