
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.
- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate31
- Wine Spectator30
- Burghound.com12
- Wine Enthusiast5
- Wine & Spirits3
- Connoisseurs' Guide2
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- Collectible31
- Older Vintages25
- Boutique22
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Mommessin Clos de Tart Grand Cru 2002Pinot Noir from Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- RP
- WS
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Sea Smoke Cellars Botella Pinot Noir 2002Pinot Noir from Central Coast, California
- WS
- RP
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Sea Smoke Cellars Southing Pinot Noir 2002Pinot Noir from Central Coast, California
- WS
- RP
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Sine Qua Non Hollerin' M Shea Vineyard Pinot Noir 2002Pinot Noir from Yamhill-Carlton District, Willamette Valley, Oregon
- RP
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Kistler Vineyards Cuvee Catherine Pinot Noir 2002Pinot Noir from Russian River, Sonoma County, California
- RP
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Domaine Robert Groffier Chambolle Musigny Les Sentiers Premier Cru 2002Pinot Noir from Chambolle-Musigny, Cote de Nuits, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- RP
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Kistler Vineyards Kistler Vineyard Pinot Noir 2002Pinot Noir from Sonoma Valley, Sonoma County, California
- RP
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Marcassin Marcassin Vineyard Pinot Noir 2002Pinot Noir from Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, California
- RP
- WS
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Sea Smoke Cellars Ten Pinot Noir 2002Pinot Noir from Central Coast, California
- WS
- RP
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Domaine Georges & Christophe Roumier Bonnes Mares Grand Cru 2002Pinot Noir from Burgundy, France
- WS
- RP
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Rochioli Estate Pinot Noir 2002Pinot Noir from Napa Valley, California
- W&S
- RP
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Williams Selyem Allen Vineyard Pinot Noir 2002Pinot Noir from Russian River, Sonoma County, California
- WS
- RP
- W&S
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Williams Selyem Precious Mountain Pinot Noir 2002Pinot Noir from Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, California
- WS
- RP
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Domaine Armand Rousseau Chambertin Clos de Beze Grand Cru 2002Pinot Noir from Gevrey-Chambertin, Cote de Nuits, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- RP
- V
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Rochioli Little Hill Pinot Noir 2002Pinot Noir from Russian River, Sonoma County, California
- RP
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Rochioli West Block Pinot Noir (scuffed label) 2002Pinot Noir from Russian River, Sonoma County, California
- RP
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Marcassin Three Sisters Vineyard Pinot Noir 2002Pinot Noir from Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, California
- WS
- RP
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Domaine Marquis d'Angerville Volnay Clos des Ducs Premier Cru Monopole 2002Pinot Noir from Volnay, Cote de Beaune, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- BH
- RP
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Patz & Hall Hyde Vineyard Pinot Noir 2002Pinot Noir from Napa Valley, California
- WS
- RP
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Domaine Jacques-Frederic Mugnier Chambolle-Musigny 2002Pinot Noir from Chambolle-Musigny, Cote de Nuits, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- RP
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Domaine Comte Georges de Vogue Bonnes Mares 2002Pinot Noir from Burgundy, France
- RP
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Devillard Domaine des Perdrix Nuits-Saint-Georges Aux Perdix Premier Cru 2002Pinot Noir from Nuits-St-Georges, Cote de Nuits, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- RP
- WS
- WE
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Rene Engel Vosne-Romanee Les Brulees 2002Pinot Noir from Burgundy, France
- RP
- WS
- BH
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Occidental Bodega Headlands Cuvee Eliszbeth Pinot Noir 2002Pinot Noir from Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, California
- RP
- WS
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Peter Michael Le Moulin Rouge Pinot Noir 2002Pinot Noir from Santa Lucia Highlands, Monterey, Central Coast, California
- RP