Pinot Noir is great to have with friends who (1) have beginner’s red wine palates and the Cabs of the world are just too much for them AND (2)  guzzle wine like beer making you wonder why you served it in the first place.  But alas, at my age, you typically still have friends in both categories at your little parties, so accomodating both is a must.  In addition, Pinot pairs well with a host of foods. But more importantly, it doesn’t require me to break my piggy bank.  For about $15 to $20, I can find a bottle of Pinot Noir that most of my friends will appreciate and still drinkable for me too!

Two such recommendations are both from Maule Valley, Chile and available through My Wines Direct:

Baco Gran Reserva Pinot Noir 2006 ~ $14.99/bottle
One member comment says it best “Consider getting case for a casual party where people expect 2 buck chuck…it’s so much nicer, but not expensive. It tells your friends you are worldly and have standards, but not uptight. Light and easy to drink”
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Candelaria Pinot Noir 2006 ~ $15.99 per bottle
According to the tasting notes, its  “Medium-bodied, it starts to show some earthy notes on the palate, and even a touch of smokiness on the finish; tannins are light and smooth”. Sounds like the perfect Pinot Noir for my friends – no sour looks here!
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Not suprisingly, tasting notes for both suggests serving with pork, chicken, salmon and mushroom based vegetarian dishes.