
Pinot Noir
Learn about Pinot Noir — taste profile, popular regions and more ...
One of the most finicky yet rewarding grapes to grow, Pinot Noir is a labor of love for many. However, the greatest red wines of Burgundy prove that it is unquestionably worth the effort. In fact, it is the only red variety permitted in Burgundy. Highly reflective of its terroir, Pinot Noir prefers calcareous soils and a cool climate, requires low yields to achieve high quality and demands a lot of attention in the vineyard and winery. It retains even more glory as an important component of Champagne as well as on its own in France’s Loire Valley and Alsace regions. This sensational grape enjoys immense international success, most notably growing in Oregon, California and New Zealand with smaller amounts in Chile, Germany (as Spätburgunder) and Italy (as Pinot Nero).
Tasting Notes for Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir is a dry red wine, typically diominated by red fruit—strawberry, raspberry and cherry with some heftier styles showing black plum and more delicate styles of Pinot giving citrus qualities. It is relatively pale in color with soft tannins and a lively acidity. With age Pinot Noir can develop hauntingly alluring characteristics of fresh earth, savory spice and dried fruit.
Perfect Food Pairings for Pinot Noir
Pinot’s healthy acidity cuts through the oiliness of salmon or texture of tuna but its mild mannered tannins give it enough structure to pair with all sorts of poultry: chicken, quail and especially duck. As the namesake wine of Boeuf Bourguignon, Pinot Noir has proven it isn’t afraid of beef. California examples work splendidly well with barbecue and Pinot Noir is also vegetarian-friendly—most notably with any dish that features mushrooms.
Sommelier Secrets for Pinot Noir
For administrative purposes, the region of Beaujolais is often included in Burgundy. But it is extremely different in terms of topography, soil and climate, and the important red grape here is ultimately Gamay, not Pinot Noir. Truth be told, there is a tiny amount of Gamay sprinkled around the outlying parts of Burgundy (mainly in Maconnais) but it isn’t allowed with any great significance and certainly not in any Village or Cru level wines. So "red Burgundy" still necessarily refers to Pinot noir.
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Kosta Browne Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2018Pinot Noir from Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, California
- JD
- WW
- RP
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Domaine Meo-Camuzet Vosne-Romanee Au Cros Parantoux Premier Cru 2018Pinot Noir from Vosne-Romanee, Cote de Nuits, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- D
- RP
- BH
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Domaine Meo-Camuzet Richebourg Grand Cru 2018Pinot Noir from Vosne-Romanee, Cote de Nuits, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- BH
- RP
- D
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Williams Selyem Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir 2017Pinot Noir from Russian River, Sonoma County, California
- RP
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- WE
- WS
- CG
- JD
- W&S
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Domaine du Clos de Tart Grand Cru Monopole (1.5 Liter Magnum) 2016Pinot Noir from Morey-St-Denis, Cote de Nuits, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- V
- RP
- TA
- D
- BH
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Domaine Drouhin Oregon Laurene Pinot Noir 2017Pinot Noir from Dundee Hills, Willamette Valley, Oregon
- JS
- RP
- WE
- WS
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Kosta Browne Cerise Vineyard Pinot Noir 2017Pinot Noir from Anderson Valley, Mendocino, California
- WS
- RP
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Domaine Jean Grivot Vosne-Romanee Les Beaux Monts Premier Cru 2017Pinot Noir from Vosne-Romanee, Cote de Nuits, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- D
- RP
- BH
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Chapter 24 The Fire Pinot Noir 2015Pinot Noir from Willamette Valley, Oregon
- RP
- WS
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Joseph Drouhin Chambolle-Musigny Premier Cru 2017Pinot Noir from Chambolle-Musigny, Cote de Nuits, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- RP
- JS
- BH
- WS
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Domaine Denis Bachelet Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru Vieilles Vignes 2016Pinot Noir from Gevrey-Chambertin, Cote de Nuits, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- RP
- V
- D
- BH
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Domaine Jean Grivot Echezeaux Grand Cru 2017Pinot Noir from Flagey-Echezeaux, Cote de Nuits, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- D
- WS
- BH
- RP
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Domaine Meo-Camuzet Corton Les Perrieres Grand Cru 2015Pinot Noir from Burgundy, France
- BH
- V
- RP
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Domaine Meo-Camuzet Nuits-St-Georges Aux Murgers Premier Cru 2017Pinot Noir from Nuits-St-Georges, Cote de Nuits, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- RP
- BH
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Domaine Meo-Camuzet Vosne-Romanee Aux Brulees Premier Cru 2018Pinot Noir from Vosne-Romanee, Cote de Nuits, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- RP
- BH
- D
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Domaine Meo-Camuzet Echezeaux Les Rouges Du Bas Grand Cru 2018Pinot Noir from Flagey-Echezeaux, Cote de Nuits, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- RP
- BH
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Domaine Jean Grivot Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru 2017Pinot Noir from Vougeot, Cote de Nuits, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- D
- BH
- RP
- WS
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Williams Selyem Precious Mountain Pinot Noir 2017Pinot Noir from Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, California
- V
- RP
- WS
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Domaine Parent Corton-Renardes Grand Cru 2016Pinot Noir from Aloxe-Corton, Cote de Beaune, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- RP
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Domaine Meo-Camuzet Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru 2018Pinot Noir from Vougeot, Cote de Nuits, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- D
- RP
- BH
- WS