Pinot Noir Under $30

Pinot Noir under $30, honestly

Pinot Noir does not forgive cheap farming, so the reliable values under $30 come from producers who make it in quantity from good California sites — Monterey, Sonoma County, the Central Coast — and from Oregon's Willamette Valley at the top of the range. Expect red cherry and raspberry fruit, soft tannin and, in the better bottles, a savory, earthy edge. Serve slightly cool and pair with salmon, duck, roast chicken and mushrooms.