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The Castor and Pollux Pinot Noir 2019 is a $6.99 Aldi import wine from the Languedoc growing region of Southeastern France. The Languedoc is the largest wine region in France and this is the area that supplies a great deal of the every-day wines that the French drink every-day.
I know that many Americans think that a $6.99 wine is too inexpensive to be any good. But in countries with a wine tradition where they have wine with lunch and dinner on a daily basis, this is exactly the type and the price of wine that they typically enjoy.
If you are looking for long-term cellar wine or drink a bottle of wine from a famous vineyard or winery, then wine becomes expensive. A good quality enjoyable wine should and can be very affordable.
There are relatively few vineyards that reliably produce wines for long-term aging, while the vineyards that produce quality wines for drink-it-now wines are plentiful.
Another thing. to remember with exclusive store brands is that they have a price advantage over comparable retail wine shop wines. Store brands do not have advertising and marketing and often pay upfront for the wine which will get them a solid discount.
It is hard to say exactly what savings advantage the Castor and Pollux Pinot Noir 2019 has over the competition, it could be a dollar or two and possibly more.
The Castor and Pollux Pinot Noir 2019 is a Pays D’Oc wine, which is one classification below AOC designated wines. The term Pay D’Oc means wine of the Languedoc (that is where they get the D’Oc) and it means that this is a wine made from grapes that are typical of the Languedoc region but did not conform to all the AOC rules and regulations.
Pay D’Oc (also known as IGP in the European Union) is a typical classification for the region where the price of wine is an important issue. Aldi does not give out any information concerning this Pinot, but Aldi is a European company and they do get their pick of affordable European wines.
The alcohol content is rather stiff for French Pinot Noir 14.5%, that is California alcohol levels.
Castor and Pollux Pinot Noir 2019 Tasting Notes
The color is see-thru cranberry red with black highlights. The nose is ripe cherry and spice, with a brush of herbs, a mushroom note, and a little pepper.
This is a medium-bodied Pinot Noir with a nice display of smooth and rough flavors and textures. it tastes of black cherry, plum, soft chocolate powder (though I do not think this Pinot has seen much oak), and a shot of spice.
The mid-palate offers ripe raspberry, a rough edge from the tannins (just a little), and a late hit of blueberry. The acidity is well-balanced.
The Summary
- The Castor and Pollux Pinot Noir 2019 is an interesting Pinot Noir.
- The spice is a little out of balance for my tastes, but not to the point where the next person might think it is perfectly fine.
- But, $6.99 does get you a Pinot Noir well worth drinking.
