One of my favorite wines to drink is the red variety Pinot Noir. It is light. versatile, and pairs incredibly well with so many lighter foods that I could have it almost every day of the week. The name means “black pine” in French. but don’t let that throw you off. It is a black grape, yes, and it is called pine because of the Latin word for pine, pineau, as the grape clusters are very tight like a pine cone. The flavors are very much in the “red fruit” category and delicious!
What is Pinot Noir and Why is it so Special?
Pinot Noir is not your big, bad, bold and tannic Cabernet Sauvignon. She’s delicate, complex, sophisticated and approachable, even to thiols who only like white wine.
Pinot Noir is an aromatic black grape that originates in the Burgundy region of France, and that is where you will find its most exquisite expression. Cistercian monks spent decade, even centuries, finding the perfect plots and soils to grow this grape to create fantastic wines destined for the table of the pope and the bishop’s. The church demanded quality and the monks were the scientists of the day that discovered where it grew best and how to make it into a wine of excellence.
Pinot Noir is what they call “finicky”. It has to have just the right conditions, usually on the cooler side, and likes a particular soil, usually limestone or marl. It has thin skin, so it can be susceptible to disease.
Besides being an amazingly delicious varietal wine (it is not usually blended with other grapes) it is one of the three main grapes used to create Champagne and you will also find it in Franciacorta and other traditional method sparkling wines around the world. It makes a lovely rose wine as well.
How Does it Taste?
This wine is dry, with high acidity, low to medium tannins and a light to medium body. You will see by the lighter color that it does not have a lot of phenolics like many other red wines.
When you look at a glass of Pinot Noir, you will see, depending on where it is from and how it is made, that it seems much paler and lighter than other red wines yu may have tried. This lightness of tannins is what I really enjoy about the wine and makes it very drinkable, with food or on its own.
For flavors, there will be red fruits (raspberry, cherry), plum, cranberry along with some floral (violet, lilac) and earthy, mushroom notes that can be a signature of Pinot Noir. Don’t let that turn you off…it is so subtle and actually very delicious. If there has ben some oak treatment you may find flavors of vanilla and spice, even toast. Yum!
Where Does it Grow?
You can find Pinot Noirs from all over the world, but the most amazing ones, and often most expensive, come from Burgundy in France. I encourage you to splurge on this at least once…you will be amazed at how the Grand Cru vineyards can create a stellar wine. I personally love Pommard, Aloxe-Corton, as well as Nuits St. George. You can spend a lot but its worth it. On the other hand, you can find some regional Burgundy wines that will not break the bank but are still delightful.
Other great areas for Pinot Noir:
- Central Coast, California
- Oregon
- Central Otago, New Zealand
- Casablanca Valley, Chile
- Cooler locations of Australia (Tasmania, Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula)
What Food Pairings?
This wine is so versatile and it goes well with a variety of foods, because of its higher acidity for a red wine. I love it with salmon, duck, pork, turkey, lighter pasta and especially anything with mushrooms.
Experience 4 different Pinot Noirs at the Wine Tasting class on August 19, 2021
Click here for information and tickets Pinot Noir Around the World – From the Vine to Wine
Want to know more? Here’s a great article from Wine Enthusiast that will keep you wanting to try more of this marvelous varietal.
The Essential Guide to Pinot Noir | Wine Enthusiast (winemag.com)
