
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 Advocate33
- Wine Spectator23
- Wine Enthusiast7
- Burghound.com5
- Wine & Spirits3
- Connoisseurs' Guide2
- Collectible33
- Boutique23
- Older Vintages16
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Domaine de la Romanee-Conti La Tache Grand Cru 2003Pinot Noir from Burgundy, France
- RP
- BH
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Williams Selyem Flax Vineyard Pinot Noir 2003Pinot Noir from Russian River, Sonoma County, California
- RP
- WE
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Marcassin Blue Slide Ridge Pinot Noir 2003Pinot Noir from Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, California
- RP
- WS
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Pisoni Vineyards Estate Pinot Noir 2003Pinot Noir from Santa Lucia Highlands, Monterey, Central Coast, California
- RP
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Williams Selyem Allen Vineyard Pinot Noir 2003Pinot Noir from Russian River, Sonoma County, California
- RP
- WE
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Kistler Vineyards Kistler Vineyard Pinot Noir 2003Pinot Noir from Sonoma Valley, Sonoma County, California
- RP
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Louis Jadot Clos Vougeot 2003Pinot Noir from Burgundy, France
- RP
- WS
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Marcassin Marcassin Vineyard Pinot Noir 2003Pinot Noir from Sonoma County, California
- RP
- WS
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Marcassin Three Sisters Vineyard Pinot Noir 2003Pinot Noir from Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, California
- RP
- WS
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Sea Smoke Cellars Ten Pinot Noir 2003Pinot Noir from Central Coast, California
- RP
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Sea Smoke Cellars Southing Pinot Noir 2003Pinot Noir from Central Coast, California
- RP
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Sea Smoke Cellars Botella Pinot Noir 2003Pinot Noir from Central Coast, California
- RP
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Roar Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir 2003Pinot Noir from Santa Lucia Highlands, Monterey, Central Coast, California
- RP
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Rochioli River Block Pinot Noir 2003Pinot Noir from Russian River, Sonoma County, California
- RP
- WS
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Lucien Le Moine Mazis Chambertin 2003Pinot Noir from Burgundy, France
- RP
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Williams Selyem Westside Road Neighbors Pinot Noir 2003Pinot Noir from Russian River, Sonoma County, California
- WE
- WS
- RP
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Rochioli West Block Pinot Noir 2003Pinot Noir from Russian River, Sonoma County, California
- RP
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Domaine Leroy Clos Vougeot Grand Cru 2003Pinot Noir from Burgundy, France
- RP
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Kistler Vineyards Cuvee Catherine Pinot Noir 2003Pinot Noir from Russian River, Sonoma County, California
- RP
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Dehlinger Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2003Pinot Noir from Russian River, Sonoma County, California
- RP
- CG
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Dugat-Py Gevrey Chambertin Coeur de Roy Vieilles Vignes 2003Pinot Noir from Gevrey-Chambertin, Cote de Nuits, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- RP
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Vincent Girardin Charmes Chambertin Grand Cru V.V. 2003Pinot Noir from Gevrey-Chambertin, Cote de Nuits, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- RP
- BH
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Mommessin Clos de Tart Grand Cru 2003Pinot Noir from Morey-St-Denis, Cote de Nuits, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- WS
- RP
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Dugat-Py Mazis Chambertin 2003Pinot Noir from Gevrey-Chambertin, Cote de Nuits, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- RP
- BH
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Louis Jadot Latricieres-Chambertin Grand Cru 2003Pinot Noir from Gevrey-Chambertin, Cote de Nuits, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France
- RP