Jardim Do Bomfim, Pinot Noir 2009

I’ve often said that there’s no such thing as a good cheap Pinot Noir but having tried the Jardim Do Bomfim 2009 Pinot Noir, I suspect that I might have to accept that I could have been wrong!

The unusual name “Jardim Do Bomfim” means “Garden of Good End” and the name is fitting for this wine given the strength of its finale. You’d have to say that it’s only a medium bodied wine, but it is mouth-filling and some warmth at the back gives the erroneous impression of a higher than average level of alcohol.

In the glass, the Jardim Do Bomfim is slightly cloudy, but as the flavours develop across the palate, the ripe but sweet cheery undertones embolden, and a spicy edge develops to carry the fruit into a cedar-lined finish.
There are none of the dominant (and sometimes astringent) oak characters that often spoil the lower cost Pinots, although it’s probably true that in the Jardim Do Bomfim, there is very little by way of tannic backbone for support.

It might not be the best Pinot Noir going around but at the price point, it’s pretty good value and more than a worthwhile quaffer.