Inexpensive California Pinot Noir - from Napa No Less

This evening's wine choice was a 2009 Meridian Pinot Noir from Napa and at $13.99 a pretty good value.  It was a nice wine, not anything amazing but for the price it was a solid purchase.  The wine had the typical Pinot Noir look with some transparency in the wine but the tastes were of vanilla and strawberries.  Not sure if there is Oak at play or not but we are sure that the wine has some unique characters that make it a good Monday night wine. 

We enjoyed the movie Sideways like many other Wine Lovers and we were trying to find an appropriate quote to use, this one stood out:

Jack: Man! That's tasty!
Miles Raymond: That's 100% Pinot Noir. Single vineyard. They don't even make it any more.
Jack: Pinot Noir?
Miles Raymond: Mmm-hmm.
Jack: Then how come it's White?
Miles Raymond: [laughs] Oh, Jesus. Don't ask questions like that up in wine country. They'll think you're some kind of dumbshit, OK?
To shamelessly steal an idea from Gary Vaynerchuk...Question of the day (QOTD):

Do you have a purchase in mind when you arrive at the Wine Shop/LC or do you browse until you find something interesting? 

All answers welcome and encouraged!

Keep on drinking...wait that doesn't sound good...or does it?

Chris & Shannon