Lucky Star Pinot Noir 2009

Wine: Lucky Star Pinot Noir 2009.

Grape: Pinot noir (90 percent), zinfandel (7 percent), merlot (3 percent)

Region: California

Vintage: 2009

Price: $ 7.99 per bottle.

In the glass: This Lucky Star Pinot Noir is a deep carnelian red color, with a bright semi-translucent red core going out into a fine red to light pink rim definition with fairly high viscosity.

On the nose: The wine is a pleasure, with bright freshly crushed red fruits, especially cherries, strawberries, red currants, red beets and stone fruit sorbet, chalky minerals and hints of rose petals and herbs.

On the palate: The wine shows great voluptuousness for a pinot-based bottling, with forward crushed red cherries, strawberry compote, stewed red plums, medium-bodied intensity with great play between the red fruit and the acidity, with hints of red currant juice, red licorice and minerals. The mid-palate, which has barely traceable wood notes, is pleasantly supple with pure integrated tannins, leading into a wonderful finish that lingers on the palate with red cherry fruit, currants and measured quantities of minerals and plum components. This is a fine example of what can be produced from blended California fruit.

Odds and ends: Another great value-for-money California pinot noir in the market is a sign that things indeed have changed. Pinot used to be one of the most exclusive grape variety branded wines and they were never cheap, especially domestic ones, since a certain pricing level was always associated with them. Now the consumers have been heard and we can find a slew of awesome and highly drinkable pinot noirs in the market for under $10 per bottle. This Lucky Star is no exception, clocking in at under $8. There's something very likeable about pinot noir, even when "adulterated" with zinfandel and merlot, as in this case. They are easy to drink straight out of the bottle and are great all-round food wines. It should be your go-to wine in the red category, much like riesling should be your go-to white wine.

Imminently approachable and easy on the wallet, this could be your Lucky Star. Try it with a grilled medium-rare piece of salmon or snapper and you'll see how versatile pinots can be. Drink it now through 2014.

Gil Lempert-Schwarz's wine column appears Wednesdays. Write him at P.O. Box 50749, Henderson, NV 89106-0749, or e-mail him at gil@winevegas.com.