Pinot Noir

When you buy something using retail links in our stories, we may earn a commission. Wine Enthusiast does not accept payment for reviews of wines, beers, spirits or other products. Read about our blind tasting and review process here. Prices may vary depending on retailer. Back in the 2010s it was a problem to find a decent rosé in most wine shops and restaurants. Now that rosé has taken over the world, however, the problem is the opposite: how do you choose from so many good options? One good way to do it is by the grape variety or varieties used to make the wine. Most of the classic rosés of the world are made with Rhône grape varieties, which can taste plummy, earthy, even meaty, but a contender originally from Burgundy, Pinot Noir, is worth looking for, too. Pinot Noir rosé is typically fruity, fresh and elegant in style, with mild acidity to brace its cherry and light spice flavors. We selected a dozen American-made rosés of Pinot Noir from the 2021 vintage ranging from $11 to $33 a bottle that give a great idea of how tasty this wine can be. Hartford Court 2021 Rosé of Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley); $32, 94 Points. Quenching in acid-driven flavors of Meyer lemon, tangerine and grapefruit, this is a lovely, bright, light and complex wine of great structure and refinement. A lasting note of wet stone adds to the beautiful texture. —Virginie Boone BUY ON WINE.COM Lynmar Estate 2021 Rosé of Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley); $33, 92 Points. This is a crisp and complex mix of floral and fruity tension and verve, brimming in beautiful bursts of white peach and blood orange. Refreshing and structured, with meat on its bones, it offers length and breadth within a balanced whole. —V.B. BUY ON LYNMAR ESTATE Lange 2021 Rosé of Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley); $28, 91 Points. This wine is a very pretty pale-salmon color. Fruit-forward aromas of melon and strawberry lead to broad-feeling flavors that bring richness. There's plenty of acid behind it all, giving a pleasing sweet-tart aspect. It's delightful. Editor's Choice. —Sean P. Sullivan BUY ON WINE.COM Rodney Strong 2021 Rosé of Pinot Noir (Sonoma Coast); $25, 91 Points. This perennially delicious wine continues its winning streak in a fresh, fruity and cohesive expression of strawberry, peach and lime, which is balanced in acidity and offers a lasting hint of lime. Editor's Choice. —V.B. BUY ON RODNEY STRONG Belle Glos 2021 Oeil De Perdrix Rosé of Pinot Noir (Sonoma County); $22, 90 Points. With a sweet richness of peach, kiwi and watermelon, this candied wine offers a midpalate of refreshing acidity, helping to balance and brighten the fruit. Pretty in color and textured, it is immensely pleasurable. —V.B. BUY ON VIVINO Morét-Brealynn 2021 Rosé of Pinot Noir (California); $27, 90 Points. A light-copper-pink color and lively raspberry and red-cherry flavors highlight this medium-bodied and nicely crisp-textured wine from a new winery based in Sonoma. It's fresh tasting and quite appetizing. —Jim Gordon FIND AT WINE-SEARCHER Pali Wine Co. 2021 P.C.H. Rosé of Pinot Noir (Central Coast); $30, 90 Points. A beautiful shade of pink in the glass, this is an exuberant style of rosé, sure to please those seeking all those fruit flavors. Aromas of cotton candy and watermelon are generous on the nose, while the palate is boisterous with strawberry, melon and smashed citrus. —Matt Kettmann FIND AT WINE-SEARCHER King Estate 2021 Rosé of Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley); $19, 89 Points. Pale salmon in color, the aromas bring notes of melon, watermelon, bubblegum and ripe strawberry. Dry, fuller-feeling flavors follow. —S.S. BUY ON VIVINO Lafond 2021 Rosé of Pinot Noir (Sta. Rita Hills); $25, 89 Points. Aromas of turned earth and cherry make for a pretty rich nose this darkly hued rosé by longtime winemaker Bruce McGuire. There's a touch of zip to the sip, where cherry, a hint of mint and light chalk flavors align. This appears to be the same exact wine as the Santa Barbara Winery 2021 rosé, also made by McGuire. —M.K. FIND AT WINE-SEARCHER Santa Barbara Winery 2021 Rosé of Pinot Noir (Sta. Rita Hills); $25, 89 Points. Aromas of turned earth and cherry make for a pretty rich nose this darkly hued rosé by longtime winemaker Bruce McGuire. There's a touch of zip to the sip, where cherry, a hint of mint and light chalk flavors align. This appears to be the same exact wine as the Lafond 2021 rosé, also made by McGuire. —M.K. FIND AT WINE-SEARCHER Bruliam 2021 Rosé of Pinot Noir (Sonoma County); $30, 88 Points. This is a reductive, textured and medium-bodied wine, bursting in bright flavors of cranberry and rhubarb that finishes sleek and dry. —V.B. FIND AT WINE-SEARCHER Castle Rock 2021 Rosé of Pinot Noir (Monterey County); $11, 88 Points. There's an earthy streak of wet rock and damp soil on the nose of this bottling, which also offers mellow plum-skin scents. Tart pink fruit and citrus-peel flavors meet with that rocky streak on the palate. Best Buy.—M.K. BUY ON CASTLE ROCK WINERY