"Planet P" Pinot Noir, Central Otago '25

Finding great Pinot Noir under $25 is no easy task. Pinot Noir is one of the world’s most difficult grape varieties to grow well: it is thin-skinned, sensitive in the vineyard, and at its best only when yields are kept reasonably low. Add sustainable or organic farming to the equation, and the labor demands rise quickly. That is why we get excited when we find a genuinely delicious bargain like this, from Central Otago in New Zealand.

Central Otago, on the southern end of New Zealand’s South Island, has become one of the world’s most compelling places for Pinot Noir. The region’s dramatic landscape, cool nights, bright sunlight, and well-drained soils give Pinot Noir a distinctive combination of ripe fruit, freshness, and energy. The best wines from here can be serious and age-worthy, but they can also be immediately joyful: vivid, aromatic, and full of charm.

The 2025 “Planet P” Pinot Noir captures that easy pleasure, with a little extra intrigue: the folks behind Burn Cottage, one of Central Otago’s most respected Pinot Noir estates, quietly helped source the wine. It is bright and supple, with notes of cherry, raspberry, plum, violet, spice, and a touch of earth. The palate is fresh and polished, with soft tannins, lively fruit, and enough structure to make it more than just a simple quaffer. This is exactly the kind of Pinot Noir we are always looking for: generous but not heavy, elegant but not precious, and priced for opening on a Tuesday night.

Serve it slightly cool with grilled salmon, burgers, or anything involving herbs, olive oil, and a little char.