2010 MGM Pinot Noir - $7

Heavy color for a Pinot. Tight nose with hints of gasoline and perfume. Strawberry fruit leather and a bit astringent on the taste. Not good. 

thumbs down - 70

2009 Trader Joe's Petit Reserve Pinot Noir - $7

This private label Pinot has juicy berry flavor and a luscious mouthfeel. The fruit is big right off the bat, but the wine is best on day two. Give this bargain wine some breathing room and impress your friends.

thumbs up - 90

2008 Castle Rock Mendocino County Pinot Noir - $9.99

For such a young pinot, this wine was quite the surprise. To start, it's a bit darker in color than your average pinot and just barely light enough to pass the can-I-see-my-fingers-through-it test. The nose is wonderful with a hint of smoke and a load of bacon. Flavor wise, its on the bigger side of things with rich plum and dark berry flavors. On the finish, I get what can only be described as apricot fruit leather. By far, the best Pinot Noir I've had from Trader Joe's under $10.

thumbs up - 89

2008 Picton Bay Pinot Noir - $7.99

Nothing special here. The search continues for another sub-$10 Pinot to compete with the Mission Point.

thumbs down - 70

2006 Mission Point Pinot Noir - $8.99

Nice nose of dark berry and black cherry with just a hint of tobacco. The taste is plummy and peppery, but vanishes quickly on the finish. The color and mouthfeel are a bit heavier than your typical pinot, but there's nothing wrong with that in my book.

thumbs up - 85

2005 Stonehedge Pinot Noir - $?

No no no no no. Please, do yourself a favor and avoid this at all costs. If I could find the receipt, I'd bring this puppy back (and list the price, which I think was around $6). The TJ's wine guy told me that Stonehedge does a lot of brokering, so the quality of each varietal is completely hit or miss. This is a fine example of the later.

thumbs down - 50