Stock up on this satisfying pinot noir while it’s only $17

Pinot noir is a remarkable grape, one whose beguiling flavor profile of red berries and wild mushrooms has earned it legions of fans around the globe. Considered one of the top two red wine grapes of all time, it is also decidedly difficult to grow, and even harder to master as a winemaker.

Pinot noir is one of the oldest domesticated wine grapes and its genetics suggest that it may be separated from wild grape vines by only one or two generations. Cultivated in the Burgundy region of France since the first century, pinot noir simply has fewer of the physical traits that humans have sought to enhance in their wine grape breeding efforts over time. Varieties that have emerged more recently, from merlot and malbec to syrah and cabernet sauvignon, were selected for characteristics that boost crop yields, like resistance to rot and disease, or that increase their wine’s shelf life, like thicker, darker skins. Pinot noir’s thin-skinned berries are notoriously fragile and susceptible to all sorts of vineyard pests and fungal dangers. Even more frustrating for vintners is this grape’s inability to yield generous harvests without a significant drop in the flavor interest in its wines. More than any other factor, this is why it can be so difficult to find satisfying pinot noirs for less than $25 and why this particular offering is such a catch at this month’s sale price. With its retro label inspired by Herman Melville’s classic novel Moby Dick, this pinot noir is surprisingly well-made for its price tier, with flavors of plump black cherries interwoven with herbal accents of bay leaf and clove. Stock up on this wine while you can.

$16.99; 13.8% alcohol

PLCB Item #98347

Sale price through Jan. 29 — regularly $18.99

Also available at these Marlton locations:

WineWorks, $12.98, wineworksonline.com; Joe Canal’s, $12.99, marltonjoecanals.com; Canal’s Bottlestop, $14.96, canalswine.com.