At Sunfish Cellars, we are always on the hunt for wines that represent great "bang for the buck" so that we are able to offer truly excellent wines to our clients at surprisingly low prices (three examples recently are the 2016 Falesco Vitiano, the 2019 Matetic EQ Sauvignon Blanc and the 2018 Altos de la Hoya Monastrell).
In my search for an excellent, reasonably priced Pinot Noir, I tasted close to forty different wines before I discovered the 2018 Bodan Roan Pinot Noir from California. I was so stunned by it, I poured it blind for our restaurant sommelier Dale and for my boss. They were both also blown away by it. Dale said it tasted like a warm vintage Willamette Valley Pinot Noir and that, if we could sell it for $30, we should buy all we could get.
Our price is $11.99 and his assessment is spot on - it really does taste like a $30+ Willamette Valley Pinot Noir! Medium-bodied, bright red fruit, soft tannins, some earthiness (mushrooms, truffles), and a long, long finish. An astonishing wine at this price.
You can purchase it here: https://sunfishcellars.com/products/bodanroanpinotnoir2018
And you will be very glad you did!