So finally moving from petite sirahs to a pinot noir, a 2008 Luigi Bosca Reserva from the foothills of the Andes in western Argentina. I think this cost me in the $13-$15 range.
I wasn't a pinot noir fan last winter, but I liked this. It was lighter than the pinot noirs. My notes say fruity and velvety, and I drank a couple glasses with supper. There was a note in it that I couldn't put my finger on.
Lo and behold, the label also describes this as velvety. Good guess. They describe the notes as red fruits, especially cherry, chocolate, ripe strawberries, and violets. My the strawberry or the chocolate is what I was getting.
A nice lighter red. It might go well with a beef stew or maybe even chili.