Chopbiscuit pompous wine review: Cycles Gladiator '09 Pinot Noir

Welcome to Chopbiscuit's elitist, smarty pants and stiff-neck wine review. We will be completely patronizing and pretentious as we review some of our favorite wines. As we do with with the barley pop, we will review anything from your local "box" of magistracy or the most pompous french cardinal blush. We drink our wines wearing plush mock turtleneck's and Lee jeans. It's about the wine people.

Now, go get me some crackers and some Himalayan sea salt and turn on the Bravo network for some clever metro sexual programming for the perfect backdrop

Poncho approved cheap Pinot

What I Drank: Cycles Gladiator '09 Pinot Noir

One of the questions that the I get asked all the time is “What’s a good, cheap Pinot Noir?”  And, when I say all the time I mean, maybe one person asked me. To which I answer, “Hardly any.” Pinot noir is costly and difficult to grow for there to be much quality wine for less than $15, and especially for $10. Ya dig?

Cycles Gladiator may well be the best of the $15-and-under-class out in the market place right now. I've been a fan of this wine since I tried it on a Carnival Cruise ship in the buffet line. (I'm kidding) It certainly has the most Pinot character, and it's less jammy and  far less fruity, with more earthiness, than the other wines at this price or even a little more pricey. It’s light enough to drink on its own, and will pair with almost anything from chicken to takeout pizza. I actually drank it last night with a Portuguese hooker in Sri Lanka. Luckily I made it back home to work this morning.

For my money, this is the most consistent Pinot Noir for the price. Now, go out and buy a shit ton and drink til' your happy again.