Cigar Box Pinot Noir
Chilean Pinot Noir with a humidor whisper, priced for Tuesday.
The story behind Cigar Box
Cigar Box Pinot Noir comes from Chile, not Argentina. The Malbec gets the Mendoza headlines; this bottle is grown in the Leyda Valley, a cool, rocky coastal pocket of the San Antonio Valley where fog and dry soils keep Pinot Noir lean and bright. Fruit is 100% estate grown, hand harvested from older heritage blocks, fermented in stainless steel, then rested briefly in light American oak.
That oak is the whole trick. It lays vanilla, mocha and a faint smoky leather note over the red cherry, which is where the name comes from. No tobacco, no additives. Santa Rita Estates bought the brand in 2017, and M.S. Walker brings it into the States. We have poured it for years as the honest ten dollar red that still tastes like Pinot.
Explore the Cigar Box range
Three Cigar Box reds sit on our shelf at everyday prices. The Pinot Noir is the lightest and most food friendly of them.
| Expression | Type | Proof / ABV | Tasting notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cigar Box Pinot Noir 750mL | Pinot Noir, Leyda Valley Chile | 13.5% ABV | Red cherry, vanilla, mocha, faint smoky leather |
| Cigar Box Malbec 750mL | Malbec, Mendoza Argentina | 13.5% ABV | Plum, dark berry, soft tannin, cocoa |
| Cigar Box Cabernet Sauvignon 750mL | Cabernet Sauvignon, Chile | 13.5% ABV | Cassis, cedar, firm finish, grilled meat |
| Cigar Box Pinot Noir, two bottles | Pair of 750mL bottles | 13.5% ABV | One for dinner, one for the rack |
| Cigar Box mixed red trio | Pinot Noir, Malbec, Cabernet | 13.5% ABV | Three varietals, one tasting night |
Which Cigar Box is right for you?
Cigar Box Pinot Noir 750mL is $10.99 on our shelf, and the Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon each run $9.99. That is the tier this brand lives in: under fifteen dollars, over-delivering. At 13.5% ABV, serve it at 55 to 60 degrees, a few minutes out of the fridge or twenty in a decanter. Decanting softens the oak sweetness and pulls the earthy spice forward. Buy Cigar Box online for pickup in Commack, or let us run it to your door.
Bright acidity cuts through roasted chicken and salmon without bruising the wallet.
Three varietals cover a whole dinner party, and nobody asks what you spent.
Plum and cocoa, soft tannins, the same easy price as the Pinot.
Cigar Box cocktails and pairings
Serve this Pinot slightly chilled with grilled salmon, roast chicken or mushroom risotto. The smoky oak note likes smoked cheese too.