Buying guide - Pinot Noir under $25

Best Pinot Noir Under $25 (2026)

What is the best Pinot Noir under $25?
By Bourbon Central, Buying guide - editorial
Updated
Short answer

Lucas & Lewellen Pinot Noir at $16.99 is the easiest, best-value pick under $25. Elouan at $21.99 is the most savory and earthy.

Lucas & Lewellen Pinot Noir at $16.99 is the best-value Pinot Noir under $25 we stock: soft, red-fruited and easy to serve. For a more savory, earthy bottle, Elouan from Oregon is $21.99.

J. Lohr Falcon's Perch ($18.99) is a polished mid-priced pick, and La Crema Monterey ($22.99) is a recognizable name for hosting.

Key takeaways

  • Lucas & Lewellen Pinot Noir ($16.99) is the best-value, easiest-drinking bottle here, and a safe crowd pour.
  • J. Lohr Falcon's Perch ($18.99) is a polished mid-priced Monterey County pick.
  • Elouan ($21.99) is an Oregon bottle with a more savory, earthy style, suited to stuffing and mushrooms.
  • La Crema Monterey ($22.99) is the most recognizable name, good for hosting or a gift.

Four Pinot Noirs under $25, cheapest to most expensive

Each bottle is listed with its region or style, since those change the taste more than the price does. The list is ordered by price, not quality.

Bourbon Central buying guide - best Pinot Noir under $25 .
Wine Style Price750 mL Best for
Lucas & Lewellen Pinot Noir California Pinot Noir $16.99An easy, fruit-forward red for a crowd
J. Lohr Falcon's Perch Pinot Noir Monterey County Pinot Noir $18.99A polished mid-priced red for roast chicken and turkey
Elouan Pinot Noir Oregon Pinot Noir $21.99A savory, earthy red for stuffing and mushrooms
La Crema Monterey Pinot Noir Monterey Pinot Noir $22.99A recognizable name for hosting and gifting

*Prices are live at publication and change. This is an editorial guide, not a scored tasting. Method: how we tested.

Cite this table

Free to reuse with attribution and a link back:

Bourbon Central. “Best Pinot Noir Under $25 (2026).” Bourbon Central, October 2026. https://thebourboncentral.com/pages/best-pinot-noir-under-25

Every bottle, and who it is for

1

Is Lucas & Lewellen Pinot Noir a good Pinot Noir under $25?

Lucas & Lewellen Pinot Noir is a California Pinot Noir at $16.99. An easy, fruit-forward red for a crowd.

Proof
California Pinot Noir
Avg. price
$16.99

Lucas & Lewellen is the lowest-priced bottle on this page and the easiest to serve. Pinot Noir at this price is usually soft, red-fruited and low in tannin, which makes it a safe pour for guests who do not usually drink red wine and a good default for Thanksgiving, pizza night or a cheese board.

It is a value bottle rather than a collector's one, so serve it lightly chilled and do not expect the depth of the more expensive wines.

Who it’s for

An easy, fruit-forward red for a crowd

Who should skip it

Anyone who wants a savory, earthy, Burgundy-style Pinot Noir.

2

Is J. Lohr Falcon's Perch Pinot Noir a good Pinot Noir under $25?

J. Lohr Falcon's Perch Pinot Noir is a Monterey County Pinot Noir at $18.99. A polished mid-priced red for roast chicken and turkey.

Proof
Monterey County Pinot Noir
Avg. price
$18.99

Falcon's Perch is J. Lohr's Pinot Noir from Monterey County, a cool coastal region that suits the grape. At just under $19 it sits in the middle of this list, with more polish than the entry-level bottles while keeping the red-cherry fruit and acidity that make Pinot Noir work with food.

It pairs well with roast chicken, turkey, salmon and pork.

Who it’s for

A polished mid-priced red for roast chicken and turkey

Who should skip it

Anyone who wants the lightest, most delicate style of Pinot Noir.

3

Is Elouan Pinot Noir a good Pinot Noir under $25?

Elouan Pinot Noir is a Oregon Pinot Noir at $21.99. A savory, earthy red for stuffing and mushrooms.

Proof
Oregon Pinot Noir
Avg. price
$21.99

Elouan is an Oregon Pinot Noir, and Oregon bottles tend to show red fruit with a little more earth and spice than their California counterparts. That savory side makes it a good match for mushroom dishes, duck and a Thanksgiving plate with stuffing.

It costs a few dollars more than the entry-level bottles and stock is limited, so order early if you want it for a holiday table.

Who it’s for

A savory, earthy red for stuffing and mushrooms

Who should skip it

Anyone who wants a ripe, jammy California-style Pinot Noir.

4

Is La Crema Monterey Pinot Noir a good Pinot Noir under $25?

La Crema Monterey Pinot Noir is a Monterey Pinot Noir at $22.99. A recognizable name for hosting and gifting.

Proof
Monterey Pinot Noir
Avg. price
$22.99

La Crema Monterey is the most expensive bottle on this page at $22.99, and a name guests tend to recognize. It is the one to open when you want a dinner-party red or a host gift that still comes in well under $25.

Serve it at cellar temperature, about 60 degrees, with duck, salmon or a roast, and give it a few minutes in the glass.

Who it’s for

A recognizable name for hosting and gifting

Who should skip it

Anyone shopping strictly for the lowest price.

What does Pinot Noir taste like?

Pinot Noir is a light-bodied red with red cherry, raspberry and cranberry fruit, bright acidity and soft tannins, often with earthy or herbal notes.

Pinot Noir has thin skins, so the wine is lighter in color and tannin than Cabernet or Syrah. That gives it a silky texture and makes it flexible with food. Cooler regions such as Oregon and Burgundy tend toward red fruit and earth; warmer regions tend toward riper, darker fruit.

How should you serve Pinot Noir?

Serve Pinot Noir slightly cool, at about 55 to 60 degrees, which means about 20 minutes in the refrigerator before pouring.

Warm Pinot Noir tastes flabby and alcoholic, while a slight chill brings out the fruit and acidity. A large glass with a wide bowl helps the aromas open up. Pinot Noir is among the most food-flexible reds: it works with roast chicken, turkey, salmon, pork, mushrooms and soft cheeses.

In stock now

Shop Pinot Noir

Browse all Pinot Noir
Lucas & Lewellen Pinot Noir
Lucas & Lewellen Pinot Noir
$16.99
J Lohr Pinot Noir Falcon'S Perch
J Lohr Pinot Noir Falcon'S Perch
$18.99
Elouan Pinot Noir
Elouan Pinot Noir
$21.99
La Crema Pinot Noir Monterey
La Crema Pinot Noir Monterey
$22.99

Frequently asked questions

What is the best Pinot Noir under $25?

Lucas & Lewellen Pinot Noir at $16.99 is our best-value pick: soft, red-fruited and easy to serve. For a more savory style, Elouan from Oregon is $21.99.

Is Pinot Noir good for Thanksgiving?

Yes. Its high acidity and low tannin suit turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce better than heavy reds. Our Thanksgiving wine guide covers eight bottles for the whole table.

Should Pinot Noir be chilled?

Lightly. About 20 minutes in the refrigerator brings it to roughly 55 to 60 degrees, which sharpens the fruit and acidity.

What is the difference between Oregon and California Pinot Noir?

Oregon bottles tend to show more red fruit with earth and spice, while California bottles tend to be riper and rounder. Elouan is from Oregon; the other three here are from California.

How many bottles of Pinot Noir do I need for a dinner party?

A 750 mL bottle pours about five glasses. For eight guests who all drink red, plan on four bottles.

Terms used on this page

The Pinot Noir vocabulary, defined once so the rest of the page can move quickly.

Pinot Noir
A thin-skinned red grape that makes light-bodied, high-acid wines with red-fruit flavors.
Willamette Valley
Oregon wine region best known for Pinot Noir.
Tannin
A compound from grape skins and oak that gives red wine a dry, grippy feel.
How we tested

How this guide was built

This is an editorial buying guide, not a blind tasting. We have not run a scored panel on these bottles, and this page carries no tasting scores. Bottles are chosen from what we stock at or under $25 and described from general knowledge of each region and style.

Disclosure. Bourbon Central sells every bottle on this page, so weigh this guide knowing we have a commercial interest in it. This page carries no tasting scores because we did not run a scored panel; the table lists bottles by price, and where a bottle is wrong for a use we have said so.

Update log

  • — First publication. Four Pinot Noirs under $25 in stock. No tasting panel - see methodology.