Josh Cellars Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir · California
$14.99
Au Contraire Pinot Noir
Au Contraire · California, Sonoma · United States
$17.99
1
Only 8 left in stock
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Why it’s a great value
It carries a verified 88-point score from Wine Enthusiast at a price under $25.
Taste profile
SweetnessDry → Sweet
BodyLight → Full
Acidity*Soft → Bright
Tannin*Silky → Grippy
Oak*None → Bold
Fruit*Subtle → Intense
* WineDiscounts editorial estimate based on verified tasting notes.
What it tastes like
Ripe cherry, raspberry and plum with violet, subtle spice, silky texture and polished French oak.
You’ll like this if…
Choose this if you like California Pinot Noir with more richness than red Burgundy but more lift and acidity than heavier Cabernet-style reds.
Why buy it
A Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir from a known California region, with producer-stated 100% Pinot Noir, French oak aging and food-friendly acidity.
Best for
Roast poultry, duck, pork with fruit, salmon and cheese boards.
Style
Medium-full, ripe, silky California Pinot Noir with red fruit, spice and moderate oak.
Drinks like
Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, fuller Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, lighter California Grenache.
Experience level
Easy for casual Pinot drinkers, but with enough Sonoma Coast character for a tasting comparison.
Flavor notes
Floralviolet
Pairs well with
duck with cherries · pork dishes cooked with fruit · chevre or other lighter, delicate cheeses · mushroom risotto or mushroom tart · cedar-planked salmon
Best occasions
Serving & enjoying
- Serving temperature:
- 55-60°F
- Decanting:
- 15-20 minutes if recently opened; otherwise serve from a Burgundy glass.
- Glassware:
- Burgundy or large-bowled red wine glass
- Drink or cellar:
- Enjoy now through the next few years; exact cellaring depends on vintage.
- After opening:
- Best within 2-3 days when recorked and refrigerated.
Guidance partly estimated by WineDiscounts from the wine’s style.
About this wine
Au Contraire Pinot Noir is a Sonoma Coast red with cherry, raspberry and plum fruit, a hint of violet, subtle spice and a silky texture. French oak aging adds polish while firm acidity keeps the ripe red fruit lively.
Wine details
- Type
- red
- Varietal
- Pinot Noir
- Grapes
- 100% Pinot Noir
- Producer
- Au Contraire
- Country
- United States
- Region
- California, Sonoma
- Appellation
- Sonoma Coast
- Bottle size
- 750 Ml
- ABV
- 13.8%
Details last verified September 25, 2026
Explore
Winemaking details ›
- Vineyard source:
- Blend of Sonoma Coast vineyards from Sebastopol to the Fort Ross-Seaview AVA, including warmer sites above the fog line.
- Vessel:
- Primary fermentation in stainless steel tanks; malolactic fermentation in barrel on full fermentation lees.
About the winery · Au Contraire ›
Au Contraire is a Sonoma County wine label focused on approachable Sonoma wines, including Chardonnay, rose and several Pinot Noir bottlings. The brand presents its wines as crafted for people who turn the ordinary into something extraordinary, with playful label illustrations built around that theme. The producer notes that the label was inspired by company founder David S. Taub. For Pinot Noir, the line includes a Sonoma Coast appellation bottling as well as single-vineyard Lawler Vineyard and Dutton Ranch wines, so this item should be merchandised as the Sonoma Coast bottling, not one of the vineyard-designate tiers.
Critic reviews
88/100Wine Enthusiast
“Big boned and fruit forward, with cherry, strawberry, clove, black tea and sage.”
86/100Wine Enthusiast
“Thick, full-bodied and oak-driven, with toast, vanilla, nutmeg, cherry cola and strawberry jam.”
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Frequently asked questions
- Is Au Contraire Pinot Noir dry or sweet?
- Au Contraire Pinot Noir is bone dry — its sweetness rating is 1 on our 1 (bone dry) to 5 (sweet) scale. It is medium-to-full bodied.
- What does Au Contraire Pinot Noir taste like?
- Ripe cherry, raspberry and plum with violet, subtle spice, silky texture and polished French oak.
- What food pairs with Au Contraire Pinot Noir?
- It pairs well with duck with cherries, pork dishes cooked with fruit, chevre or other lighter, delicate cheeses, mushroom risotto or mushroom tart and cedar-planked salmon.
- How should I serve Au Contraire Pinot Noir?
- Serve at 55-60°F. 15-20 minutes if recently opened; otherwise serve from a Burgundy glass. Glass: Burgundy or large-bowled red wine glass.
- Is Au Contraire Pinot Noir a good value?
- At $17.99 it carries a verified 88-point score from Wine Enthusiast; the review is shown on this page.
- What is the bottle size and alcohol content of Au Contraire Pinot Noir?
- 750 ml bottle, 13.8% alcohol by volume.