Frankly, it’s hard to find a $20 Pinot Noir that tastes anything like Pinot these days. Enormous demand for the fickle grape has incentivized producers to pump it out however they can, blending in Syrah, stems, and sub-par juice, and turning the California Pinot into the wine world’s version of the McNugget. Sure, we all like chicken, but can you really tell me which part of the chicken you’re eating? That’s why it’s so refreshing to find this beautiful bottle from the Santa Lucia Highlands priced at $21. With delicate notes of red fruit, perfume, and violet petals the wine delivers well beyond its price point.