2008 Evening Land Vineyards Pinot Noir

Consulting French winemaker Dominique Lafon has imbued this Oregon Pinot Noir with an elegant Burgundian character. Medium-bodied, with a silky texture and finespun finish, the 2008 Evening Land Vineyards Pinot tastes of black cherries and wild plums. A lithe acidity and undertone of minerality give this vintage definition. A beautiful expression of Pinot Noir, and at this price, it is a stunning buy.

-- S. Irene Virbila

Region: Willamette Valley, Ore.

Price: From $20 to $25

Style: Rich and elegant

What it goes with: Roast chicken or duck, boeuf bourguignon, goulash.

Where to find it: John & Pete’s Fine Wines & Spirits in West Hollywood, (310) 657-3080, www.johnand petes.com; K&L Wine Merchants in Hollywood, (323) 464-9463, www.klwines .com; Silverlake Wine, (323) 662-9024, www.silverlake wine.com; Wine Exchange in Orange, (714) 974-1454, www.winex.com; and Woodland Hills Wine Co. in Woodland Hills, (818) 222-1111, www.whwc.com.