Drinks of the Month

Calusari Pinot Noir - a brilliant pinot noir for £5.99

Posted by Fiona Beckett (Google+) on July 12 2013 at 08:45

The general view is that it’s impossible to buy decent pinot noir under £10 but I find it’s a theory that’s consistently being disproved these days. And that the best of the cheaper pinots are as good as many burgundies at twice the price.

This week’s drink of the week - a 2012 Calusari Romanian Pinot Noir that’s currently on offer at an incredible £5.99 at Bristol wine merchant David Bell McCraith - falls into that category.

It’s quite light in colour but has a dark plummy flavour rather than the bright raspberry fruit of pinots from California, Chile and New Zealand. It’s also a shade drier and more savoury which will appeal if you’re looking for a low cost alternative to Burgundy.

Surprisingly the winery is owned by a Brit, Philip Cox, aided by new world-trained winemakers. (The wine actually reminded me of Jacob's Creek's Pinot Noir which is quite a bit more expensive.)

In this sunny weather I would chill it lightly and serve it with any of the usual pinot suspects* - seared tuna or salmon, grilled lamb or duck. The perfect easy-drinking red for a barbecue.

Other stockists include The Halifax Wine Company (£6.59) Hennings in Sussex (£6.99). For more see wine-searcher.com

* For a longer list of pinot pairings see here.

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