Grape varieties: Pinot Noir
Are you a white wine drinker who finds red wines too heavy? Well Pinot Noir may just be the red wine for you!
About the grape
This red grape variety tends to develop into tight clusters of berries (Grapes) on the vine. These shape like cones which is where the name comes from: Pinot = pine cone in French. It is a grape with a thin skin, meaning it develops fewer tannins, making it more palatable to those who dislike the drying effect tannins have. It prefers cooler climates, and sometimes struggles to ripen in cooler areas and cooler vintages.
A bit of a diva
The Pinot Noir grape is notoriously difficult to grow and fussy about conditions. If it were a pop-star it would be the kind of pop star that asks only for a certain colour M&Ms in the green room. If care is not taken to manage yields it can become diluted and thin. Pinot Noir wines tend to be either stunningly elegant, complex and moreish; or bland, vegetal, thin and pretty awful. If you are buying Pinot Noir, just identifying the grape on the label is unlikely to indicate a quality wine. The grape is also very susceptible to all kinds of disease, so needs a lot of care.
Profile
Pinot Noir wines are generally lighter in style than most red wines. They can be simple and aromatic, or can take on more complex earthy flavours. As a general rule, wines are:
- Medium to High in acidity
- Dry in style
- Low to medium alcohol
- Light bodied
- Low in tannin
Typical aromas and flavours are of red fruits: strawberry, raspberry, red cherry, red currants, and forest fruits. Good examples take on mushroom, forest floor, earthy and gamey characteristics, clove, vanilla, and hibiscus. These wines are great drunk without food, but also pair well with cheese, duck and dishes like coq au vin.
Sex in a glass
Pinot Noir was described by Master Sommelier Madeline Triffon as “Sex in a glass”. It is hard to argue that the best examples of Pinot Noir do not exude a sensuous, velvety, smoothness which fires up the dopamine response. Its earthy characteristics make it a little mysterious, dark and aloof. The lightness of this style make it deceptively drinkable and less demanding that more tannic alternatives. You can probably tell I’m a fan!
With a sparkle in its eye
Pinot Noir is also the most widely planted grape in the Champagne region in France. It is one of the three most widely used grape varieties in Champagne. It also makes a very nice Blanc de Noirs (white from red grapes) sparkling wine as well. So not only can this grape produce luxurious, mysterious, complex red wines, but it adds body and strength and in my view a slight hint of bruised red apple which is very pleasant. A good example of this would be Bollinger.
Production
By far the largest production is in Burgundy, France, but Oregon in the United States (and California as well) produce some very fine examples. Germany, Italy and Moldova also has significant plantations, as do New world countries such as New Zealand, Australia and Chile.
So have you ever tried a Pinot Noir? Have you found a really good one? Or do you think Pinot Noir is better as a component in sparkling wines? I’d love to hear your views. Do drop me a line to let me know. In the meantime, keep exploring this beautiful planet we live on, one glass at a time!