Best Pinot Noir Under $20: 4 Critic-Rated Bottles

The best Pinot Noir under $20 right now comes from Oregon and from California’s broad “California” appellation. Our top pick is A to Z’s 2023 Oregon Pinot Noir, which Wine Enthusiast scored 91 points and which sold for about $16 to $19 at the stores we checked. On a tighter budget, Mark West 2024 (90 points, about $11 to $13) gives the most score per dollar. This list is for anyone who wants a light, food-friendly red for salmon, roast chicken or a Thanksgiving table without paying Burgundy prices.

How we picked

We don’t taste the wines ourselves. Each bottle below has a published professional score for the exact vintage named, and a typical US shelf price that we checked at two or more retailers in October 2026. We then applied the thresholds in our Blue Book Value method: 90 to 92 points is a Great Value at $20 or less, and 88 or 89 points is a Great Value at $15 or less and a Good Value up to $20. We found fewer well-rated, widely sold Pinot Noirs under $20 than Cabernets, so this list has four wines rather than eight. Below them you’ll find advice for finding more.

The best Pinot Noir under $20 at a glance

Wine	Critic score	Typical price (Oct 2026)	Verdict
A to Z Pinot Noir 2023 (Oregon)	91, Wine Enthusiast	about $16–$19	Great Value
Mark West Pinot Noir 2024 (California)	90, Wine Enthusiast	about $11–$13	Great Value
Hahn Pinot Noir 2024 (California)	90, Wine Enthusiast	about $13–$14	Great Value
Line 39 Pinot Noir 2023 (California)	89, Wine Enthusiast	about $11–$15	Great Value

All scores are on Wine Enthusiast’s 100-point scale, and each wine has only this one professional score that we could confirm for its vintage.

A to Z Pinot Noir 2023

• Score: 91 points, Wine Enthusiast (October 2026 issue).
• Price: about $16 to $19, checked October 2026 ($17.99 regular price at Binny’s, $17.09 at Wine Library and $18.95 at BuyWinesOnline, all for the 2023). Some stores list it at $22 to $26, and at those prices it would be a Good Value rather than a Great Value.
• Verdict: Great Value.

The screw-capped 2023 is labeled simply “Oregon” and shows the state’s brighter style. Wine Enthusiast’s reviewer liked its simplicity: raspberry with an herbal edge of oregano and bay leaf, then red cherry and black tea. Our pick: it is the bottle we’d reach for first, because it has the highest score here and a style that tastes like Pinot Noir rather than a generic red. Pour it with salmon, mushroom risotto or roast chicken.

Mark West Pinot Noir 2024

• Score: 90 points, Wine Enthusiast (October 2026 issue).
• Price: about $11 to $13, checked October 2026 ($10.79 at PJ Wine and $12.95 regular price at BuyWinesOnline, both for the 2024; $11.99 regular price at Binny’s).
• Verdict: Great Value.

The reviewer describes an aromatic, concentrated wine with Bing cherry, ripe plum, citrus peel and sweet oak, followed by a generous palate of plum, pomegranate, strawberry and spice with smooth tannins. It is riper and rounder than the Oregon wines here. In our view it is the best Pinot Noir for the money on this list. It suits pork tenderloin, turkey burgers or a weeknight pasta with mushrooms.

Hahn Pinot Noir 2024

• Score: 90 points, Wine Enthusiast (July 2026 issue).
• Price: about $13 to $14, checked October 2026 ($13.33 at Lisa’s Liquor Barn and $12.79 at PJ Wine, both for the 2024; $13.99 at Binny’s).
• Verdict: Great Value.

Wine Enthusiast’s reviewer calls it lively, with dark berries, cola, vanilla and dried herbs, then tart strawberry, dark cherry and a mocha note over silky tannins. At 14.5% alcohol it is a fuller Pinot than most. We’d suggest it to anyone who usually drinks Merlot or Cabernet and wants to try something lighter. Try it with grilled salmon or duck. Our guide to wine with salmon has more ideas.

Note: Hahn sells both a “California” Pinot Noir and pricier Santa Lucia Highlands bottlings. The 90-point score here is for the California wine.

Line 39 Pinot Noir 2023

• Score: 89 points, Wine Enthusiast (May 2026 issue).
• Price: about $11 to $15, checked October 2026 ($10.79 at PJ Wine and $14.50 at Wine On Sale, both for the 2023).
• Verdict: Great Value.

The reviewer found a bright, juicy wine with cherry, red plum and citrus on the nose, then raspberry, strawberry jam and dried herbs with a smooth finish. It is the cheapest wine on this list at most stores. Our pick for a party or a pizza night, when you want a red that won’t overpower lighter food.

Close, but not a pick

Erath Pinot Noir 2023 (Oregon) has 89 points from Wine Enthusiast (October 2026 issue), so under our method it would be a Good Value at $20 or less. In October 2026 we found it at $17.99 regular price at Binny’s, but at about $22 at Saratoga Wine and $23.99 regular price at 67 Wine, which had it on sale for $19.99. We ignore sale prices, and we couldn’t confirm a second regular price of $20 or less, so it isn’t a pick. If your store sells it for $20 or under, it is worth a look: the reviewer describes raspberry, cedar and black tea with slightly firm tannins, which suits roast pork or a cheese board. Our guide to wine and cheese pairing has more matches.

Which bottle for which dinner

Pinot Noir has light tannins and fresh acidity (the mouth-watering tang that keeps a wine from tasting flat), so it flatters food that a heavy Cabernet would bury. Here is how the four picks line up, based on the styles the reviews describe:

If you’re serving…	Reach for	Why it works
Salmon, tuna or trout	A to Z 2023 or Hahn 2024	Bright red fruit and soft tannins don’t clash with oily fish
Roast chicken or turkey	A to Z 2023 or Line 39 2023	Herbal, juicy styles that match savory stuffing and gravy
Pork, duck or lamb burgers	Hahn 2024 or Mark West 2024	Riper, fuller styles stand up to richer meat
Pizza, pasta or a casual party	Mark West 2024 or Line 39 2023	Fruity, easygoing and the cheapest picks here
Mushroom dishes	A to Z 2023	Its herbal, black-tea notes echo the mushrooms

For more matches beyond this list, see our wine and food pairing guide.

What to look for in a Pinot Noir under $20

Pinot Noir is a thin-skinned grape that needs a cool climate and careful farming, and that is why good cheap Pinot is harder to find than good cheap Cabernet. A few habits help:

• Read the appellation. Under $20, “Oregon” and “California” on the label are the usual sources of well-rated bottles. Single-vineyard wines and famous names such as Willamette Valley sub-regions or Russian River Valley usually cost more.
• Decide on a style. Oregon Pinot at this price tends to taste of red fruit, herbs and tea. California bottles lean to dark cherry, cola and vanilla, with a softer, fuller feel. Neither is better; pick the one that matches your dinner.
• Look beyond the US. Wine Enthusiast has recently rated many French “Vin de France” and “Pays d’Oc” Pinot Noirs, and Chilean Pinot from coastal valleys, at 88 to 91 points for $13 to $20. They are worth trying as Burgundy alternatives. Check that the score on the tag matches the vintage.
• Be wary of “sweet” Pinot. Some cheap Pinots are made in a soft, jammy style that can taste sweet. If you prefer drier reds, read the review before you buy rather than relying on the brand.

Tip: Serve Pinot Noir a little cool, around 55 to 60°F. A warm bottle tastes flat and more alcoholic.

How to find more good-value wine

New vintages of these wines arrive through the year, and the score on the shelf tag is not always for the bottle in front of you. Use the same three checks we do: who gave the score, for which vintage, and what the bottle costs compared with our thresholds. Our guide to wine ratings explains how the scales work, and our best Cabernet Sauvignon under $20 list covers the bigger red you may want for steak night.