We set the bar high for our Fall ‘09 Under $20 Pinot Noir Series a couple of weeks ago with an exploration of the wow-worthy 2007 Becker Pinot Noir, a German offering (and a lovely, rare treat). This week it seemed prudent to continue our search for solid, under $20 Pinot by continuing to look in places that seem to play hide and seek in the American market.

Head on over to Wicked Local to head down er-yonder, to the Southern Hemisphere’s Pinot capitol: New Zealand!

Have you noticed New Zealand Pinot is starting to take off, too? Do you have a favorite?

Thanksgiving is a time to gather with friends and family and celebrate the little things in life. Some folks are inclined to do so by picking out one very special bottle of wine to share with friends; for others it is a time to uncork several celebratory bottles (and keeping the average price a bit lower doesn’t hurt). Pinot Noir and Gamay (Beaujolais Nuveau) are the darlings of Thanksgiving reds, offering a delicious pairing with turkey and cranberry sauce, brussel sprouts and other earthy, root vegetables. But with the Pour Favor mini-series on Pinot Noir about to hit full stride Monday’s this month, it seems only fair to give a few whites (and one incredible rosé) a fair shot at gracing your dining room table!

Head over to Wicked Local to find out where the fun begins this Thanksgiving!

Which one of these selections most catches your attention? Will it contribute to your festivities this Thanksgiving?

There’s no time like the fall to start your Pinot engines. And there’s no reason to wait for Thanksgiving to enjoy these wines for their food-friendly attributes and elegance. Today over at Wicked Local we’re starting a new mini-series on great Pinot Noir for under $20; and we’ve started the fun with one of the finest examples  on the market today!

Check out today’s article to learn more about the wine that absolutely WOWed me – and which country produces this hidden gem….

Have you discovered a secret “trick” to finding delicious, recession-proof Pinot?

Good news! This week there was much more wine fodder to catch my fancy. So, let’s jump right in!

First, from the tasting “room”:

Gaiter and Brecher over at The Wall Street Journal are continuing their plight to find domestic wine deals. I’m not convinced my taste test would have produced the same outcome on their American Cab-off, but their banter and findings are worth checking out here. And they are right on this point: you should ask your local wine guru what deals they have in stock. ‘Cause they’re definitely out there!!

Last but not least, Dr. Debs has had her own challenge at play: finding good Pinot Noir under $20. I argue it’s nearly impossible to find anything drinkable under $15, but there are some good ones in the $15 to $20 range. I may have to join her efforts and supply the wine curious out there with a few of my own Pinot Noir recs. Too good to miss those, too!

And now, from “Hollywood”:

New wine movie in the making: “The First Big Crush” is being made into a movie, reports Decanter. What’s better than a visual tour of New Zealand, wine making – and wine drinking? Here’s hoping the premier allows a bit of that…

New wine show in the making?? I have to say, the New Zealand headline also reminded me that “The Winemakers” reality show should have premiered by now. Granted I’m not much of a TV watcher, but I thought I would have seen more fodder in the wine world prompting me to turn on the tube! Noth’n. Has anyone seen this yet? Day/time??

As much as we may hate to admit it, the smell of autumn is in the air. September offers a great opportunity to embrace wines of all shapes and sizes, regardless of a specific need to celebrate. Sometimes simply unwinding at the end of a long day is the way to go. This month we offer some bubbly for just such an occasion, as well as a cool white that could fly under the radar screen if not given proper attention and a dynamic duo of opposing, but equally enticing reds. School may be back in session, but September is absolutely not a month for “Time Out” in the wine world!

Pop on over to Wicked Local for this month’s roster of recess-worthy picks.

What else are you sipp’n on this month?