Byron, Santa Barbara County (California) Pinot Noir 2009

 It is difficult to find good, inexpensive Pinot Noir from California, because Pinot Noir is a challenging variety to grow, unsuited to high-volume production.  This is a very good Pinot Noir and a great buy at $17.  It’s a pretty, easy-going, supple Pinot with lots of flavor of the red-fruits sort, such as red cherry, raspberry and cranberry.  Although it aged for eight months in French oak barrels, 20 percent of them new, oak flavor and tannin is almost imperceptible. This is not a huge wine nor an important (i.e., age-worthy, expensive) one, and that makes it ideal for summer drinking.