A Wine for Tonight: 2008 Mark West Pinot Noir


By Kori ~ December 2nd, 2010.

Would you like a quick suggestion for a good wine to drink tonight (or this weekend) that won’t break your budget and is widely available? Many of our readers have said this is something they would like, so here is this week’s selection, the 2008 Mark West Pinot Noir from California.

Our selection criteria include:

  • A very good Quality rating of >=3.5 stars (out of 5)
  • A price tag of <=$15
  • Must be widely available

Mark West Winery, located in Graton, California, was founded in 1978 and acquired by Purple Wine Company in 2001. Winemaker Alex Cose was hired in 2002. Mark West specializes in producing value California Pinot Noir and sources fruit from vineyards in Santa Barbara, Central Coast, Sonoma Valley, Napa Valley, Mendocino County, and other areas in California. It is not often that you find a very good bottle of Pinot Noir like this for under $10.

“Enticing aromas of strawberry and raspberry with barrel notes of caramel, vanilla and baking spices. Oak aging rounds out the palate and gives the wine its body. The wine drinks of deep, concentrated raspberry, cherry pie with a touch of cola berry. The wine shows juicy fruit texture and subtle oak.” –Alex Cose, winemaker

2008 Mark West Pinot Noir (California): Medium, ruby red in color. Very aromatic with strawberry, raspberry, and spice on the nose. More red fruits and cinnamon come through on the palate. Medium-bodied and lively with soft tannins and a long, smooth finish.
Quality: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
QPR: 5 bangs for your buck (out of 5)
Where to buy: Fred Meyer (Seattle, Washington), $9.99; Available elsewhere, $8 to $12


Filed under: A Wine for Tonight, American Wine, California Wine, Five-Bangs For Your Buck Wines, Pinot Noir, Red Wine, Wines Under $10, Wines Under $15, Wines Under $20, Wines Under $25
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