Name and Synopsis – Pinot Noir is the grape variety behind some of the greatest and iconic dry red wines in the world. It found its best “home” or micro-climates on the temperate east- facing slopes of the Côte de Nuits in Burgundy (France) centuries ago and is used (unblended) to produce the finest Pinot wines in the world, which are at this stage still unrivalled. Serious contenders have started to appear in New Zealand and the USA in the last 20 years though. But due to the fact that it is very difficult to grow, is prone to diseases, and will only show quality if raised at low yield and in rather cool climates, it has restrained its production to mostly the best quality-driven winemakers in the right sites. Pinot Noir is used unblended in its dry red wine format unless when it contributes to the most famous sparkling wine in the world, Champagne, where it is blended with two other grape varieties Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay. White Champagne is also produced from it, by pressing the Pinot Noir grapes gently to allow the white juice from the pulp to be extracted without its skin tainting it.

Origin – It is believed to be one of the oldest grape varieties produced in Gaul (ancient France) one century BC.

Best Climate – Pinot Noir needs rather cool or temperate climates on limestone based soils in order to produce the best results. In warmer regions, grapes mature with high degree of alcohol (15%+) and lack aromatics.

Flavours and Tastes – The best Pinot Noir wines exhibit red fruits on the nose in their youth like raspberries and cherries which are Pinot Noir’s trademarks, some sweetness like toffee, but also Asian spices like cinnamon and clove along with sometimes farmyard and earthy aromas too. When they get older, different layers can appear like fresh mushrooms and undergrowth. Usually, winemakers use subtle oak maturation to not mark the Pinot Noir wine too much as they try and reflect a micro climate and soil predominantly. It is as always difficult to generalise Pinot Noir aromatics, as the diversity of soils, micro-climate, vintages and winemakers’ styles produce unlimited possibilities which on some occasions can be the greatest and most sensual bouquets. With regards to structure, Pinot Noir wines have rather low tannins (and light colour as both are linked) which makes sipping great Pinot a very soft and velvety experience. This combination of red fruits aromas and soft structure for Pinot, as opposed to dark fruits and bigger structure for other red wines, has led wine experts to define Pinot Noir as sensual and soft, with even a Master Sommelier, Madeline Triffon, calling Pinot “sex in a glass”! When blended with Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay in Champagne wines, it usually provide the structure and body of the resulting wine, and also colour in the case of Rose wines (red and white wines are blended together).

Best regions in the World – Côte de Nuits in Burgundy and Champagne (France) / Martinborough, and Central Otago (New Zealand) / Willamette Valley in Oregon (USA)

Next month - Sauvignon Blanc